The preliminary hearing of Kevin Benbow, 17-year-old suspected in the November 2010 shooting death of Jinnell McQueen, was cut short today in D.C. Superior Court after a private conversation between Judge William Jackson and the attorneys handling the case.
At the hearing, the prosecutor and defense attorney approached the bench and spoke with the Jackson. Then Jackson excused all parties from the courtroom.
What was discussed and decided is unknown. Those details are under seal, Jackson said.
According to court documents, Benbow is charged with first-degree murder in the death of McQueen. He was arrested in April 2010; the preliminary hearing has been postponed seven times.
Charging documents allege that Benbow and an associate were attempting to rob McQueen when she was shot. Benbow told police that McQueen approached him and his associate and asked them about buying PCP. As the three walked down Eaton Road SE, Benbow or his associate told McQueen that they were robbing her. She fought Benbow’s associate and Benbow picked up his associate’s gun to break up the fight, but he slipped and the gun fired, striking McQueen in the head, Benbow told police.
