On Friday, November 1, 2024, D.C. Witness reported that a motion to recuse D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun was filed in a fatal car crash case. The motion was submitted by defense attorney Albert Amissah during a hearing held on October 31, 2024, on behalf of his client, Nakita Walker.

Walker, 44, is facing multiple charges, including three counts of second-degree murder, fleeing law enforcement, and assault with a dangerous weapon, stemming from a car accident on March 15, 2023, that resulted in the deaths of three individuals: Mohamed Kamara, 43; Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, 23; and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22.

In the hearing, Amissah argued that Walker believed Judge Okun was biased against her, specifically citing the judge’s previous denial of her release conditions. However, Judge Okun responded by indicating that the motion lacked essential documents, such as a certification of good faith and a written affidavit, which are typically required for such a request. While Judge Okun noted that the absence of these documents could have led to the denial of the recusal motion, he chose to reject the motion on the grounds that there was no evidence of bias extending beyond the courtroom.

Following the judge’s ruling, Walker expressed a desire to change her legal representation. The prosecution objected to this request, arguing that Walker had already changed counsel in the past and that her current attorneys were specifically chosen by her. Prosecutors emphasized the urgency of the case, noting that the next trial date was only three weeks away and stating, “cases rarely get better with time.”

Judge Okun supported the prosecution’s position, warning that appointing new counsel would likely delay the trial until late 2026. He also suggested that Walker’s concerns might be more related to her own situation than to her attorneys. After discussions with Amissah and her second attorney, Destiny Fullwood-Singh, Walker ultimately decided to retain her current legal team for the time being.

 

 

Source: D.C. Witness