A preliminary hearing for Jewell Washington was delayed twice this week: once to allow her attorney time to discuss a plea offer with her and again when it could not be determined who was legally representing Washington.
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Albrecht Muth to Represent Himself Against Murder Charge that he Killed Wife Viola Drath
Albrecht Muth will represent himself against a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the killing of his wife, Viola Drath, Georgetown Patch reports.
Albrecht Muth appeared in DC Superior court Friday before Juge Russell F. Canan and asserted his right to represent himself in the felony murder case against him. During the hour-long status conference, Muth continued to link himself with the Iraqi military and alleged that his wife’s death was a “hit” orchestrated by agents of Iran because of Muth’s role in the Iraqi military; he linked her death to the plot against the Saudi Ambasssdor.
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Substantial Probability Found in Metro Bus Shooting Case Against Delron Atchison and Vincent Gray
Delron Atchison and Vincent Gray were ordered held today after Judge Thomas Motley found substantial probability that they were involved in the fatal shooting of Demetrius Thompson on board a Metro bus in Southeast DC last month.
Both men are suspected of second-degree murder in connection with the case.
Friday’s brief preliminary hearing followed the arrests of two young women immediately outside the courtroom where the hearing was to be held. Detectives assigned to the Metro bus shooting case were present for the arrests and said that they were connected to the case.
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Week Ahead
Each Friday, 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.
On Monday, Aaron Adams is expected for a status hearing with Judge Fisher. Adams is suspected of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Garrett White Memorial Day weekend.
On Tuesday, Curtis Patterson and Rickey Pharr are expected for a status hearing with Judge Motley. They been charged with first-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of Angelo Jones.
Judge Motley is also expecting Kwan Kearney for a status hearing. Kearney is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr.
DC Superior Court will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please remember that court dates can change, even at the last minute. To view the docket of a case please go to the D.C. Courts website and search by the defendant’s name.
Murder Charge for Woman Suspected in Assault of Jodie Ward
A charge of second-degree murder while armed is expected to be presented to Felicia Jones Friday afternoon, court records show.
Jones, 30, is currently in custody on suspicion of assault with intent to kill in connection with the death of Jodi Ward.
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Did a Jailhouse Rumor Lead to Eric Kearney’s Death?
Kwan Kearney is awaiting trial in two separate murders in November 2010: Joseph Alonzo Sharps Jr. on Nov. 8 and Jamal Demetrius Wilson on Nov. 14.
His brother, Eric Kearney, also known as Tay, was supposed to be a witness for the defense in one of those cases, but he was shot and killed on Oct. 17 near Truxton Circle.
Prosecutors believe Eric Kearney’s death is tied to his brother’s case. Not because he was a witness, but because he may have accused another man of being an informant.
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Monday Shooting Victim Identified as Ronald Deacon Smith
A man killed in a double shooting Monday night has been identified as 27 year-old Ronald Deacon Smith of Northeast DC.
MPD issued a press release with the ID on Tuesday, but did not send the release to local media.
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Ray Dicks Arrested on Suspicion of Murder 1 in Eric Kearney’s Shooting Death
A 21-year-old Capitol Heights man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the October shooting death of Eric Kearney.
Ray Allen Dicks was presented with the charge Wednesday at DC Superior Court, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 23.
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“My wife loved being at my side,” Albrecht Muth tells Court in Letter
“God is great.”
So begins Albrecht Muth‘s latest letter to the court, to be submitted, by his account, into the record on Friday.
In the seven-page handwritten letter, Muth protests the “tenor” of the government’s reply to his claims of military service with the Iraqi Army. He also claims never to have identified himself as an East German spy, a Soviet Spy, a CIA operative, or an Albanian count. And he discusses his relationship with his wife, Viola Drath, whom he is accused of killing.
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Court Apperances for Kevin Benbow, Rashad Slye Postponed
Preliminary hearings scheduled for Friday in two murder cases have been postponed.
Rashad Slye, who was due to appear on a charge of first degree felony murder while armed in the shooting death of Domingo Ezirike, is now expected for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29.
Kevin Benbow, who was due to appear on a charge of first degree murder in the shooting death of Jinnell McQueen, is now expected for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 27.
