Judge Russell Canan declared a mistrial in the case against Donte Graves after jurors announced they were unable to reach a verdict.
Ten jurors reported that they were prepared to acquit Graves of second-degree murder while armed, assault with a deadly weapon and armed robbery. Of the remaining two jurors, one disagreed and another was dismissed from the case.
“I know it is frustrating to be in this position, but your service is helpful to the judicial process,” Canan told jurors. Read more
The Washington Post‘s Theresa Vargas, Emma Brown, Lynh Bui and Peter Hermann look deeply at the disappearance of eight-year-old Relisha Rudd and the safety net that should have kept her safe.
In the story they ask: Who failed Relisha?
It has been more than a month since Relisha’s family has seen her and more than a week since the police search for her became a “recovery mission.” People who knew her now talk about her in both the present and past tense, revealing in the same breath their hopes and fears.
But whether Relisha is alive or dead, the instability of her life — evictions from apartments where gunfire was common, weeks at motels and then months at the homeless shelter with a troubled mother and three brothers — put her on the radar of school administrators, social workers, shelter employees and volunteers, who make up the safety net for the city’s vulnerable children.
Read the full story here.
In brief:
Two homicides were reported in D.C. this week:
Kahlil Malik Tatum was found dead from an apparent suicide in Kenilworth Park on Monday. Police suspect Tatum is the abductor of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd, who is still missing.
Gregory Allen Green was arrested and held on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed, felony murder and attempted robbery in connection with the shooting death of Derrick Eugene Williams. Charging documents say a witness said that Green was one of two people standing over Williams moments after three gunshots were heard.
Antonio Williams was held on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Andre McIntyre. According to charging documents, two witnesses told police that McIntyre owed money to Williams for “drugs bought on credit” prior to the attack.
Rashad Slye was sentenced to 17 years in prison for second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death and attempted robbery of Domingo Ezirike, a 40-year-old cab driver from Prince Georges County. Prosecutors say that Ezirike stopped to pick up Slye and his girlfriend in his cab, but after an argument, Slye shot Ezirike.
Judge John Ramsey Johnson dismissed the case against Asia Dontrese Moore, suspected in connection to the stabbing death of her boyfriend Marvin Harvey. Bill Miller, spokesman for the United States Attorney’s Office, explained that the investigation of Harvey’s death will continue.
The retrial of Joshua Andrews began with opening arguments this week. Four months ago, a jury was unable to decide whether Andrews was guilty or innocent of first-degree murder while armed in the 2010 shooting death of Darond Alonte Lucas.
Attorneys gave their opening arguments in the case of Antoine Little, charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon in connection with the stabbing death of James Eric Cain. Prosecutors say Little stabbed Cain five times after Cain called Little a “fake Muslim.” But Little’s defense attorneys say he acted in self-defense.
Jurors began deliberations in the murder trial of Donte Graves, charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Tyrone Joyner. In closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorneys said Joyner could have been shot and killed by another man, while prosecutors said eyewitness testimony proves Graves was the shooter.
The trial of Daren Vaughn continued this week with the defense’s case. Vaughn is charged with premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, armed robbery and related weapons offenses in connection with the stabbing death of 23-year-old Tyrell Swann.
Each week, Homicide Watch brings you a list of upcoming hearings in the cases we follow. All hearings are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. unless otherwise noted. To add an item to the listing, email homicidewatchdc [at] gmail.com. To see scheduled court hearings beyond next week, see our calendar.
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The case against twenty-two-year-old Asia Dontrese Moore was dismissed Friday by Judge John Ramsey Johnson; Moore had been suspected in connection to the stabbing death of her boyfriend Marvin Harvey.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the case without prejudice after determining that there was insufficient evidence to go forward at this time,” explained spokesman Bill Miller via email on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
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“Sh*t is sad. Dude is dead. Shoulda had that sh*t on safety.”
Alone and arrested, prosecutors say, these were Rashad Slye’s words. He was suspected in the shooting death and attempted robbery of Domingo Ezirike, a 40-year-old cab driver from Prince Georges County.
Police found Ezirike on October 22, 2011 around 4:00 a.m., dead of a gunshot wound, in the 4300 block of Ponds St. Northeast.
Friday, more than two years after Ezirike’s death and Slye’s arrest, and three months after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Slye was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
His words Friday were for his mother.
“In my twenty-three years, I never listened, not once. You told me, ‘you gonna end up in jail,” Slye said.
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MPD has released a video of a person who who appears to be walking off an escalator in a DC area metro station. MPD is trying to identify that person in connection with the disappearance of eight-year-old Relisha Rudd. They say he may have information about the girl.
The video, and MPD’s press release, is below.
Prosecutors say Antoine Little stabbed 53-year-old James Eric Cain five times after Cain called Little a “fake Muslim.” But in opening arguments Thursday, Little’s defense attorneys say that Little saw a “frenzied look” on Cain’s face that day and knew his life was on the line.
“Imagine a 265-pound, six-foot-three-inch Cain, drunk and high on cocaine, steaming mad and charging straight at you,” defense attorney Andrew Crespo told jurors in opening statements.
Police found Cain on June 25, 2012, in the 1500 block of Kenilworth Avenue Northeast suffering from five stab wounds, including one to the throat that perforated his jugular vein. Little, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon in connection with Cain’s death.
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Gregory Allen Green, 25, was held without bond Thursday on charges of first-degree murder while armed, felony murder and attempted robbery in connection to the shooting death of Derrick Eugene Williams this past weekend.
Williams, 35, was found last Saturday at approximately 12:23 a.m. lying on the sidewalk of the 1200 block of Eaton Place Southeast, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Green was arrested four days later.
Charging documents say a witness, who has known Green for over ten years as “Face,” said that Green was one of two people standing over Williams moments after three gunshots were heard. According to the documents, the witness saw Green pulling the victim’s legs and going through the victim’s pockets.
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In closing arguments Wednesday, defense attorneys for Donte Graves argued that police ignored the possibility that Tyrone Joyner was shot and killed by another man, his friend. Prosecutors argued that eyewitness testimony and forensic evidence prove Graves was the shooter.
Now jurors will decide which version to believe, and whether Graves is guilty of murder.
On February 24, 2013, Joyner was found near Nationals Park in Southwest D.C. suffering from a gunshot wound to the stomach; he later died at Howard University Hospital. Graves is charged with second-degree murder in connection with his death.
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