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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James Brown Held in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Darnell Rivers
Judge Lori Parker ruled today that there was enough evidence to hold James Brown in connection with the death of 22-year-old Darnell Rivers, in what detectives believe was a kidnapping attempt that turned into a shootout.
Brown, 23, was arrested Thursday afternoon and charged with first-degree murder while armed.
According to arrest documents, several witnesses helped police piece together what occurred on that Saturday evening.
Detectives believe that Rivers and another man, Javon Hale, had kidnapped Brown’s brother Tony at gunpoint in the vicinity of 51st Street and Astor Place Southeast on December 29, 2012. Hale and Rivers forced Tony Brown into the rear passenger side of a vehicle — but did not search him — and then sped off, according to documents in the case. Read more
Jurors Find John Bolton Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in the Death of Christopher Fletcher
Jurors found John Bolton guilty of second-degree murder today in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Fletcher.
Bolton was charged with first-degree murder; second-degree murder is a lesser charge. The jury also found Bolton guilty of three firearm charges.
The jury deliberated for three days before delivering the verdict around 2:30 p.m. Friday.
Fletcher’s sister, Rachel Young, was in the courtroom while the verdict was being read. She said the acquittal on the first-degree murder charge made her heart skip a beat.
“I almost passed out. I was thinking that this could not happen,” Young said. “I am very happy with the verdict.”
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Brian Gaither Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea in Death of Latisha Frazier
One of the suspects accused in the brutal murder of teen Latisha Frazier is seeking withdraw his guilty plea, saying that he was confused when he agreed to it and did not realize that the plea would not significantly lessen his potential sentence.
An attorney for Brian Gaither filed the motion Tuesday.
Gaither entered the plea in Nov. 2012 in the midst of his trial preparations. Since then, though, he has come to reconsider that choice.
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Andre Miles Pleads Innocent in Shooting Death of Sandy Greene
Andre Miles pleaded innocent Friday to charges related to the April shooting death of Sandy Greene III.
Miles was arraigned before Judge John Ramsey Johnson. The grand jury issued a three-count indictment against Miles, charging him with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
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2011 Shooting Victim Dies, Ruled Homicide
Jonathan Alonzo Woods died Wednesday from a gunshot wound he sustained nearly two years ago. His case is the fifth D.C. homicide in 2013.
Woods, 22, was shot on April 4, 2011, in the 400 block of Burbank Street Southeast. He was at a nursing home in Prince George’s County, Md., when he died.
A statement from MPD is below:
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Jurors Deadlock in Felicia Jones Murder Trial
Jurors in the murder case against Felicia Jones have deadlocked after two days of negotiations, telling Judge Ronna Beck that they were “hopelessly” unable to find Jones either guilty or innocent in the stabbing death of Jodie Ward.
The deadlock prompted Beck to declare the case a mistrial this afternoon.
The jurors’ announcement came shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday. They told Beck that they deadlocked with eight jurors in favor of finding Jones guilty of second-degree murder. The jury also deadlocked on the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed, with nine voting guilty.
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Alexander Buckley Ordered Held in Suspicion of Siohban Lee’s Death
Alexander Buckley, the man accused of killing 18-year-old Siohban Nicole Lee, appeared in court Saturday to be presented with a charge of second-degree murder.
Judge Gerald Fisher ruled Saturday that there was enough evidence to hold Buckley, 21, in connection with the fatal shooting, which occurred on the morning of January 25.
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Felicia Jones Testifies She Stabbed Jodie Ward to Fend Off PCP-Fueled Attack
Taking the stand on her on behalf, Felicia Jones told jurors at her murder trial that she killed Jodie Ward out of fear that he would rape or kill her when he attacked her in a PCP-fueled daze.
Jones, 30, attempted to explain to jurors at trial Monday the series of events that led to Ward’s death that Oct. 2011 day at her Eaton Road Southeast home.
Jones testified that the pair had a brief romantic relationship in 2008. When the relationship ended, the pair developed a platonic friendship centered around shared PCP use, Jones said.
Ward helped Jones move into her home and stopped by when he felt like it, Jones said. Ward told her he was homeless, and she would sometimes let him shower and give him deodorant, socks and grooming supplies, she said.
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Prosecutors Open Third Trial Against Raymond Roseboro for 2010 Prince Okorie Murder
Three teens were walking alongside Raymond Roseboro and Prince Okorie as the group of friends headed home from Roosevelt High School in Northwest Washington just before 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2010. Prosecutors say Roseboro shot Okorie so suddenly, with a gun no one knew he had, that only one teen could identify him before they all ran away.
Attorneys delivered opening statements in Judge Russell Canan’s courtroom Monday in a case that has proved elusive for prosecutors. It’s the third time Roseboro has faced trial at D.C. Superior Court for the murder. He faces first-degree murder while armed charges, along with several weapons charges.
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