By
Bersabel Ephrem
– January 26, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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Throughout a Jan. 25 preliminary listening to, D.C. Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan discovered possible trigger in a homicide case.
Bernard Eddy, 23, is charged with first-degree homicide whereas armed in connection to the capturing of Steffen Brathwaite on Sept. 10, 2019 on the 3000 block of twenty fourth Place, SE.
The lead MPD detective within the case testified that Eddy and two suspects have been seen getting right into a automobile and driving in direction of Ainger Place, SE.
When the detective interviewed a witness within the case, he informed the detective that he didn’t know who the defendant was however an image of the defendant and the witness was discovered on social media. Within the image, the witness is seen holding a Ruger firearm that was later confiscated and related to the murder.
In accordance with the testimony of the case’s lead MPD detective, Eddy and two suspects have been noticed getting right into a automotive and heading within the route of Ainger Place, SE.
The prosecutor added that Eddy was overheard saying repeatedly that he was smoking a “Steph pack” throughout an Instagram Reside on his Instagram account.
“When an individual kills somebody, they identify the substance they’re smoking after the individual they kill after which smoke it,” the prosecutor stated.
Though Eddy claimed accountability for the capturing, in accordance with a Langston Lane patrol officer, “HD” was the one who truly killed the sufferer.
Julie Swaney, the protection counsel for Eddy, asserted throughout cross-examination that even supposing “HD” is now not alive, all of the proof results in him because the precise shooter.
In accordance with Swaney, “HD” threatened to shoot a witness and pop him as he did the deceased, and simply earlier than the homicide, his automotive was shot at whereas his youngsters have been inside.
She added that there have been different witnesses who stated “HD” and an individual going by the identify of “Mel Mel” have been chargeable for the homicide.
“This case is predicated fully on supposition,” she stated. “Nothing is discernible.”
Decide Raffinan was urged to search out possible trigger by the prosecutor.
“There’s possible trigger that there’s multiple shooter however for functions to immediately, the defendant had motive, was across the space of the crime, and was celebrating after the homicide,” Decide Raffinan stated.
Decide Raffinan discovered possible trigger in “a minimum of aiding and abiding.”
“This isn’t as sturdy as different circumstances, however the ballistics level to a Ruger present in April of 2020. The {photograph} that was taken the identical day because the homicide with the Ruger firearm. These gadgets level to Eddy with the gun and the automobile,” she stated.
The following listening to is scheduled for April 28.
