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Charges dropped in Whitcomb killing
01/25/2017 1:43 PM by John M
Daquan W. Morris, the only person charged in a fatal gun battle last August, saw his charges dropped today.
Ali Rockett from richmond.com has more:
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Learned Barry told a Richmond Circuit Court judge he couldn’t pursue the charges of first degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon because witnesses in the case refused to testify, Barry said. One in 10 cases falls apart because witnesses won’t come forward to testify, he estimated.
This is true regarding the statement made by Learned Barry. Alot of cases are “dropped”, or either “nolle prosequi”, by the prosecutor because the victim, or witness of the case refuses, to testify. Even though the victim or witness is issued a subpoena to come to court, some, but not all of the victims, honor the subpoena, since their really isn’t any law in this state that forces an individual to testify. I’ve personally seen cases nolle prosequi by prosecutors because the victim, or witness refused to testify,which in turn, put the individual who was accused of the crime, back into society;a prosecutor can’t go forward with a case without evidence. And majority of the time, the individual who was accused of the crime, actually did what he/she was accused of. Here’s a case that happened in the east end where the accused had his case nolle prosequi because of lack of evidence.
http://wtvr.com/2016/08/11/christmas-eve-shooting-update/
I really appreciate this story and linked wtvr story in @#1 as well. I had missed that piece. Crimes occur and we often follow them up the point of an arrest if there is one, but when I’ve followed further, I’ve learned a lot. This — and the perhaps related ‘victim refused to cooperate with investigation- happens a disturbing amount.
My heart goes out to the victims families in both cases.
From where I’m looking, what happened in both cases wasn’t right, and neither is this.