Antoine Little | Homicide Watch DC

Antoine Little Found Innocent in James Cain's Death

Megan Arellano — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:19:42 -0400

Jurors deliberated for less than five hours before they found Antoine Little innocent of murder Wednesday, acquitting him of all charges in connection with the stabbing death of 52-year-old James Cain.

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. Prosecutors say that Little went with his wife and another person to get their car fixed by Cain that day.

At trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Wheeler argued that Little initiated a physical confrontation that lead to Cain's death, but defense attorneys reminded jurors in closing arguments that one witness saw Cain grab a long metal pole first.

Monica Smith testified that after Little exited the car, he walked at a "steady pace" toward Cain and said, “I’m tired of all your sh*t. I told you to go ahead with that mess.” Smith says when the two men met, Cain pushed and struck at him first. Smith could not recall in court whether or not Cain used a closed fist.

Additionally, two eyewitnesses said that Cain was swinging a long metal pole before he was stabbed, defense attorney Jason Downs said. According to Little's attorneys, Little acted in self-defense to stop 265-pound, six-foot-three-inch Cain from killing him.

At trial, Robbie Watts testified that Cain was known around the neighborhood as “a violent type of person that would do anything to you.”

After the jury read the verdict, Judge Jennifer Anderson scheduled 36-year-old Little's release.

Jurors Begin Deliberations in Antoine Little Murder Case

Dana Jennings — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:17:36 -0400

In closing arguments, prosecutors and defense attorneys both told jurors that an argument between Antoine Little and James Cain started a physical confrontation where Cain was stabbed and killed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Wheeler said Little initiated the physical confrontation after he felt disrespected because Cain called him a fake Muslim. But Little's defense attorney argues that Cain swung a large metal pole at Little first and asked jurors to consider Cain's history of violence.

Now it's up to jurors to decide which version to believe and how the story will end. Little, 37, faces charges of second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon in connection with Cain's stabbing death on June 25, 2012.

Prosecutors say that Little went with his wife and another person to get their car fixed by Cain at the 1500 Block of Kenilworth Avenue Northeast on June 25, 2012. There, Cain and Little got into an argument about who was a "real Muslim."

Monica Smith testified she was on her phone as the argument between Little and Cain began. Smith told jurors that Cain called Little "a b**ch motherf**ker". But when pressed to remember whether Little was also cursing, Smith said, "I don't recall who was saying what. I don't feel safe saying one or the other."

According to Wheeler, then Little got angry, exited his car, and approached Cain saying, "I'm tired of your sh*t," and "Respect me, I'm a man."

Smith testified that as Little walked, not ran, toward Cain and said, "I'm tired of all your sh*t. I told you to go ahead with that mess." Smith says when the two men met, Cain pushed and struck at him first. Smith could not recall in court whether or not Cain used a closed fist.

Wheeler told jurors that the two men began pushing each other, and then Cain started to walk away and dropped his cane. That's when Little pulled out a knife, according to Wheeler.

Defense attorney Jason Downs told jurors that one witness saw Cain grab a long metal pole first and that two eyewitnesses said that Cain was swinging a long metal pole before he was stabbed.

"He wasn't trying to play stickball," said Downs, "he was trying to do bodily harm."

Robbie Watts testified that she lived in the same neighborhood as Cain, a neighborhood where Cain had a reputation for being "outspoken."

He was "a violent type of person that would do anything to you," Watts said, adding that it was both her opinion and the neighborhood's opinion.

Wheeler warned the jury against making a judgment based on Cain's criminal history. On the night that he died, Little and the two eyewitnesses were all physically very close to Cain during the altercation, but none were hurt by him, according to Wheeler.

Cain "may not be who you want for dinner," said Wheeler, "But he has a right to live."

The jury will continue deliberations Wednesday.

Trial Begins for Antoine Little in the Stabbing Death of James Cain

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 10:47:00 -0400

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.

Assistant United States Attorney Gary Wheeler told jurors that Little was the man who turned a verbal altercation into a physical one when he got out of his car and pushed Cain during an argument.

"There is no doubt in anyone's mind that at the time [Cain] was stabbed, he was engaged in an argument with the defendant," Wheeler said. "If it was not for the defendant jumping out of the car this would have never happened."

According to Wheeler, Cain started the verbal altercation because he was offended when Little did not give him a proper Muslim greeting and called Little a "fake Muslim."

That argument may have been "loud and vulgar," Wheeler said, but it was "just verbal."

But two eyewitnesses expected to testify -- Little's wife and Cains's wife -- described the events before the stabbing differently.

According to charging documents, one witness told police Little first produced a knife before Cain went to a nearby bush and picked up a three foot metal pipe that was sharpened at the end, like a spear.

The other witness told police that Cane started swinging at Little first. Then, Little took out his knife, pulled Cain close, and stabbed him until Cain stopped charging at him, said the witness.

According to Crespo, who argued Little never pushed Cain to start, Little stopped defending himself as soon as Cain stopped charging.

The trial is scheduled to resume Monday.

Fight Led to Fatal Monday Kennilworth Stabbing, Witnesses Say

Laura Amico — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 17:58:39 -0400

A fight over who "was a real Muslim" led to James Cain's stabbing death in Southeast DC Monday evening, a witness in the case has told police.

Antoine Little, 36, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Cain's death. He was ordered held Friday pending a preliminary hearing in the case.

Charging documents in the case rely on two witness. One witness told police that when Little arrived in the Kennilworth neighborhood where Cain was Monday night, Cain greeted Little but the two soon began arguing about "who was a real Muslim and who was a fake Mulsim," charging documents state

The two pushed and shoved each other a bit, then Little produced a knife and Cain retrieved a "long metal object" from nearby. Before Cain swung the piece of metal, Little stabbed him, the witness told police, according to the charging documents.

But the other witness relied on in charging documents describes a different scenario.

That witness told police that Cain armed himself with a "metal spear like object" and swung at Little. Little grabbed the metal object, pulled Cain close in, and stabbed him, the witness told police according to the charging documents.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled in the case for July 13 with Judge Thomas Motley.

Charging documents in the case are below.

Antoine Little Arrested in Stabbing Death of James Eric Cain

Laura Amico — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:55:14 -0400

A Southwest DC man has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the Monday stabbing death of James Eric Cain.

MPD identified the suspect as 36-year-old Antoine Little.

A press release from MPD is below.

June 29, 2012

Arrest Made in Homicide in the 1500 Block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the fatal stabbing of James Eric Cain which occurred in the 1500 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE.

On Monday, June 25, 2012, at approximately 8:47 pm, members of the Sixth District responded to the rear of the 1500 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE for the report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent stab wound. Personnel from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 53-year-old James Eric Cain of NE, Washington, DC.

On Thursday, June 28, 2012, at approximately 6:15 pm, 36-year-old Antoine Little of Southwest DC, was arrested by members of the Homicide Branch. He was charged with Murder Two while Armed in connection with the stabbing death of James Eric Cain.