Marvin Moore | Homicide Watch DC

Marvin Moore Sentenced to 12 Years for Fatally Stabbing Friend Timothy Benjamin

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:15:45 -0400

Marvin Moore was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison for stabbing his friend, Timothy Benjamin, five times, causing his death in September 2013.

Moore pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in October, but later wrote a letter to Judge Russell Canan asking the court to withdraw his guilty plea because he was not adequately represented.

On Monday the court received a second letter from Moore stating he was ready to move forward with sentencing and that he takes full responsibility for what happened.

“Me and the guy were tight and I cry every night over the incident," wrote Moore in his second letter.

In court Friday Moore said his intention was to "get [Benjamin] off of me."

"I am not a murderer, I’m not a bad person,” he told the court.

Moore said fifty-eight-year-old Benjamin was under the influence of K2, a synthetic form of cannabis, and struck Moore repeatedly before Moore stabbed him.

Canan responded by telling Moore he had done a very wise thing working out the plea agreement and that if the case had gone to trial he could be facing 20 to 30 years.

“You’ve been a violent member of our community for 20 years. The facts are there,” Canan said.

Defense attorney Brandi Hardon asked the court for a sentence of no more than six years saying Moore took responsibility from the very beginning and that Moore was intoxicated.

“He’s an alcoholic and was drinking heavily with his friend Mr. Benjamin that night,” Hardon said.

Hardon also asked the court to disregard his first letter saying Moore had received some bad advice from jail and other places.

According to charging documents, Moore and Benjamin got into an argument in an alley near the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue about which man would take a third person home. The third person told police that they decided to go home with Moore. As a result, according to that witness, Benjamin invited Moore to fight.

Prosecution attorney Michelle Bradford said Benjamin put up his bare hands and said to Moore, “let’s go.”

“On the night that this occurred there was no significant provocation for the defendant to stab him five times,” Bradford said.

Bradford said Moore reacted with excessive force and asked Canan that Moore be sentenced to 11 years. The victim’s family declined to make any impact statements on behalf of the prosecution.

Marvin Moore Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Megan Arellano — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 17:30:17 -0500

A DC man charged in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea. He says he believes he has mental health issues and was not adequately represented by his attorney.

In a letter written to, Marvin Moore, 37, expressed those concerns in a letter written to Judge Russell Canan. He also wrote that he thought he was pleading to involuntary manslaughter without a weapon. His plea is entered in court records as voluntary manslaughter.

"After consulting with a few [people], all I want is a fair trial," Moore said in his letter.

Benjamin was found with two stab wounds on September 21, 2013.

After the witness and Moore moved Benjamin underneath a covered entrance, the witness felt two stab wounds. While the witness applied pressure to the wounds, they looked up and observed Moore folding a black handled knife, court documents state.

Moore was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the case.

Of his plea he said in his letter to the court, "I was told that I would receive seven years."

In court on Friday, defense attorney Brandi Harden defended her representation of Moore. The sentencing guidelines for the case recommend a sentence of six to eleven years.

Judge Canan asked Harden to speak with Moore and see if the matter can be resolved.

A new sentencing date is scheduled for January 31, pending a motion to formally withdraw the plea.

Marvin Moore Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Death of Timothy Benjamin

Clara Pak — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 22:22:15 -0400

Marvin Moore pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin.

Benjamin was found by police on September 21 at approximately 12:41 a.m. in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest suffering from multiple stab wounds. Charging documents in the case indicated that he was stabbed when a verbal argument turned physical.

Moore was arrested five days after Benjamin died.

In addition to the voluntary manslaughter plea, Moore also pleaded guilty Friday to carrying a dangerous weapon.

Though the maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter is 30 years, in exchange for the plea, prosecutors will seek a sentence of 6 to 11 years for the combination of both charges.

Moore is expected to be sentenced by Judge Russell Canan January 10, 2014.

Plea documents have been added to this post below.

Moore, Marvin Plea Documents (PDF)Moore, Marvin Plea Documents (Text)

Marvin Moore Hospitalized, Released on Bond in Timothy Benjamin Murder

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:34:01 -0400

Marvin Moore was released on a $500,000 bond after being hospitalized and unavailable to attend a court hearing Friday. Moore, 36, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection with the stabbing death of 58-year-old Timothy Benjamin.

Court documents state that Moore is currently at Providence Hospital receiving medical care, but do not state whether he is injured or ill or what his condition is.

Police found Benjamin on September 21 at approximately 12:41 a.m. in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue Northwest suffering from multiple stab wounds.

He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Five days later, Moore was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in Benjamin's death.

According to charging documents Benjamin was stabbed and killed after a verbal argument turned physical.

Charging documents state that a witness told police that on the night of the stabbing Benjamin and Moore were walking with the witness in an alley near the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, when Benjamin and Moore began to argue about who the witness was going to go home with, documents state.

When the witness said that they decided to go home with Moore, the witness heard Benjamin say to Moore, "put your hands up," inviting him to fight. The witness then saw Moore strike Benjamin multiple times in the body, while Benjamin raised his hands in a defensive posture repeatedly saying, "Get the f--- off me." The witness then yelled at the two to stop fighting, and Moore stopped hitting Benjamin, court documents state.

The witness said Benjamin then tried walking south down the alley, but was "wobbly" and bleeding. The witness and Moore then laid Benjamin down under a covered entrance, documents state.

After placing a hand on Benjamin's body, the witness felt two stab wounds that were bleeding. The witness applied pressure to the wounds, then looked up and observed Moore folding a black handled knife, which he then put it in his pants pocket, court documents state.

"What did you do?" the witness asked Moore. To which Moore responded, "I poked him."

Charging documents state that the witness then called 911.

Moore is scheduled for a presentment hearing tomorrow with Judge Yvonne Williams. His medical condition, and information about why he is being treated at a hospital, was not immediately available.

Charging documents have been added below

Moore, Marvin Charging Papers (PDF)Moore, Marvin Charging Papers (Text)

Arrest Made in Georgia Avenue Stabbing Death of Timothy Benjamin

Laura Amico — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:14:12 -0400

A 36-year-old Northwest DC man was arrested Thursday in connection with a fatal stabbing on Georgia Avenue NW last week.

The suspect, identified by police as Marvin Moore, is expected to be presented with a charge of second-degree murder while armed, police said.

Timothy Benjamin was found stabbed shortly after midnight on Saturday, Sep. 21 in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

September 26, 2013

Arrest Made in Homicide in the 5300 Block of Georgia Avenue, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in connection to the stabbing death of Timothy Benjamin that occurred in the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW.

On Saturday, September 21, 2013 at approximately 12:41 am, police officers from the Fourth District on routine patrol observed a male subject lying on his back in the rear of the 5300 block of Georgia Avenue, NW suffering from apparent multiple stab wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 58 year-old Timothy Benjamin of Northwest, Washington, DC.

On Thursday, September 26, 2013, at approximately 8:30 am, members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant, arrested 36 year-old Marvin Moore of Northwest, DC, charging him with Second Degree Murder While Armed in the homicide of Timothy Benjamin.