A 48-year-old woman found unconscious late Thursday night was choked to death, MPD said Friday.
The woman, identified by police as Detra Martin, was transported to a local hospital from the 800 block of Southern Avenue Southeast. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and her death was ruled a homicide.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
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When Davon Brown was gunned down in front of his apartment building in July 2012, he was hanging out with his two best friends cracking jokes.
In opening arguments Wednesday, prosecutors described that scene, calling the 22-year-old an “innocent bystander.”
The man prosecutors say is responsible for Brown’s death: Jashua Johnson.
But Johnson’s defense attorney, Jason Downs, says that’s “impossible.”
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Prosecutors say Ervin Lamont Griffin didn’t have anything to give to D.C. brothers David and Montez Warren the night of May 13, 2011 when he was dragged from his car at gunpoint. And so the Warren brothers shot him in the neck.
The Warren’s attorneys though say that story lacks crucial forensic evidence and relies on questionable testimony.
Jurors heard these arguments Tuesday morning, the first day of trial in the case.
David Warren, 27, and Montez Warren, 32, face 14 charges including first-degree murder, kidnapping while armed, and related weapons offenses in connection with Griffin’s death.
Police found Griffin dead of a gunshot wound to the neck on Friday May 13th, 2011, in an alley behind the 1200 Block of 18th Place Northeast.
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In brief:
There were no murders in DC this week.
Tsihnik Cavallero, a 28-year-old Southeast DC man, was arrested Monday in connection with the shooting death of Marcus Minor last month. He was ordered held on Wednesday.
A witness believed to have been killed in connection with the murder trial of David and Montez Warren was identified as Ronald Smith. The trial is scheduled to begin opening arguments Tuesday.
Ercell Overton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and two related assault counts in connection with the shooting death of Solomon James Okoroh. Overton signed an Alford plea agreement, which means that he accepts punishment without asserting guilt. Prosecutors will request that Overton receive a sentence of 25 to 28 years in prison.
A judge found probable cause for a charge of second-degree murder in the case against 41-year-old Robert Osborne. Osborne has been ordered into high intensity supervision while a grand jury investigates the murder of 20-year-old Vincent Purvis.
According to court records, Joshua Mebane, 17, intends to pursue an insanity defense in the connection with the 2012 shooting death of DC cab driver Quadar Muhammad, 44. Mebane has been sent to St. Elizabeths Hospital for a mental health examination.
The trial of alleged gang members Keir Johnson, Lester Williams, Robert Givens and Marcellus Jackson continued this week. Jurors have heard arguments for over four months now.
Stephanie Lawson, 44, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Karen Jordan on August 27, 2011. Lawson faces up to 30 years in prison. She was initially charged with first-degree murder.
Michael Davis‘s defense attorneys argued that Davis can not participate fully in his defense and should perhaps be again ruled mentally incompetent. Davis is charged with two counts of assault and one count of first-degree murder in connection with five hammer assaults, including one which killed 66-year-old Denver nurse Gary Dederichs.
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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In the nine months since Michael Davis was found competent to stand trial, letters from Saint Elizabeths hospital show Davis continuing to confuse legal concepts with each other.
Now his attorneys are attempting to convince the court to halt trial proceedings, arguing that Davis can not participate fully in his defense and should perhaps be again ruled mentally incompetent.
“Virtually all of the Hospital letters indicate that Mr. Davis required ‘education’ on one or more areas,” a motion presented to the court by Davis’ attorneys Friday alleges.
Davis is charged with two counts of assault and one count of first-degree murder in connection with five hammer assaults that occurred in Petworth during April 2012. Prosecutors allege that one of those assaults killed 66-year-old Denver nurse Gary Dederichs.
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Stephanie Lawson, 44, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal stabbing of 49-year-old Karen Jordan on August 27, 2011.
Lawson faces up to 30 years in prison. She was initially charged with first-degree murder.
In a preliminary hearing held in October 2011, prosecutors argued that Lawson stabbed Jordan in an argument over a $20 debt while she was at Jordan’s apartment playing cards.
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A man believed to be homeless, known around his neighborhood for selling bootleg CDs, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the stabbing death of 37-year-old Sean West.
Richard Williams, 43, chose to represent himself at trial in December 2013 as he faced charges of second-degree murder while armed and related offenses.
Williams was diagnosed with a malingering personality disorder and alcohol dependency in April 2013 after several mental health observations. He was found competent for trial in November 2013 and refused legal representation short after.
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A Maryland teen suspected in the death of a DC cab driver has been sent to St. Elizabeths Hospital for a mental health examination after notifying the court that he intends to pursue an insanity defense in the case.
According to court records, Joshua Mebane, 17, was released to the hospital Wednesday.
Mebane is suspected of first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Quadar Muhammad, 44.
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Robert Osborne was released from jail custody Wednesday despite a finding of probable cause in the murder charge against him.
Osborne, 41, is suspected in the shooting death of 20-year-old Vincent Purvis.
Judge Robert Richter ordered him into high intensity supervision while a grand jury investigates the case.
Purvis was killed January 15 in a drive-by shooting on Yuma Street Southeast D.C. near the closed Ferebee-Hope Elementary School. According to eyewitness reports, someone inside the a silver vehicle fired multiple shots aimed at Purvis.
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