Anthony Thomas, one of three suspects charged in connection with the 2011 shooting death of 71-year-old Solomon Reese, pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter while armed and related robbery offenses.
Prosecutors read the plea agreement and proffer of facts Friday during a sealed bench conference between Judge Herbert Dixon, Thomas, and counsel from both sides.
“We’re trying to keep people from getting killed,” prosecutor Gary Wheeler said Friday.
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Judge Ronna Beck sentenced Davon Holmes Friday to 24 years in prison for the 2011 stabbing death of 24-year-old Marcellus Terrell Bailey.
“There really is no sentence I can impose to really address your loss,” Judge Beck said to Bailey’s family Friday. “But due to the vicious nature of this crime I am imposing a sentence at the high end of the guidelines.”
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Albrecht Muth, the man charged with the 2011 death of his 91-year-old wife, Viola Herms Drath, on Thursday was denied the right to represent himself at trial. Judge Russell Canan denied the request due to Muth’s inability to attend court hearings because of medical conditions he endures from a nine month self-induced fast.
“If you elect to stop the fast, it is my intention to let you represent yourself,” Judge Canan said to Muth, who entered his appearance by telephone. “If you elect not to end this fast the court would proceed to trial without you present.”
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A man found fatally shot in Northeast DC overnight has been identified by police as 46-year-old James Baxter of Bowie, Maryland.
A press release from MPD is below.
October 17, 2013
Homicide: 500 block of 48th Place, Northeast
(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred in the 500 block of 48th Place, NE.
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Burnis Cole was arraigned Thursday on charges of first-degree murder while armed and a related weapons offense in connection with the stabbing death of 40-year-old Raasheem Jamal Rich. Cole pleaded innocent to all charges and remains held pending a status hearing November 14.
Police found Rich on January 10 at 3:27 p.m. on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue Southeast suffering from apparent stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. One week later Cole, 35, was arrested and held on suspicion of first-degree murder while armed in Rich’s death.
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A man was fatally shot just before midnight in Northeast DC, WUSA, NBC Washington and the Washington Post report.
Reports WUSA:
Metropolitan Police officials tell WUSA*9 officers responded to a report of gunshots in the 500 block of 48th Place near Eads Street around 11:46 Wednesday morning. Once they arrived at the location police found a man suffering from a gun shot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 26-year-old DC woman has been arrested in connection with the death of an infant, who was brought unconscious to a local hospital on Friday.
The baby boy, who was not identified by police, was pronounced dead the same day. Medical examiners have determined the case of death to be asphyxiation and the case has been ruled a homicide.
The woman, Sosefina Amoa of Northeast DC, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first degree felony murder in connection with the case. Police did not say what her relationship with the infant was.
WJLA reports that the hospital was Little Sisters of the Poor.
The Washington Post reports that Amoa is the mother of the child.
A press release from MPD is after the jump.
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The man accused of fatally shooting Howard University student Omar Sykes may have believed the safety on his weapon was on, according to charging documents in the case.
Appearing in court Wednesday, 26-year-old Rasdavid Lagarde was ordered held in the case on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Sykes was found shot July 4 in the 700 block of Fairmont Street Northwest around 11:30 p.m; he later died at a local hospital.
Police believe his death was the result of an attempted robbery.
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In this week’s episode of This American Life, reporter Saul Elbein tells the story of a former Metropolitan Police detective who mistakenly coerced an innocent woman into confessing to a 1994 murder she didn’t commit. Read more
Erik Postell, 23, was presented last Saturday with a charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Paul Aime Tanoh Danzo. Postell is the second suspect to be held in connection with the case. Michael Smith was arrested in connection with Danzo’s death in September.
The case against Postell is not listed in court records, however, a spokesman for the US Attorney’s office said Postell was ordered held without bond and would next appear in court on October 22 at 9:30 a.m. in front of Judge Lynn Leibovitz.
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