DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied a homicide defendant’s motion to withdraw his guilty plea on July 10.
Michael Garrett, 70, pleaded guilty on March 19 to second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the blunt force trauma death of 71-year-old Sylvia Matthews. The incident occurred at Matthews’ home on the unit block of Elmira Street, SW, on Dec. 3, 2021. Mathews’ succumbed to her injuries on Dec. 4, 2021.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the prosecution dismissed the pending charges of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, felony murder while armed, first-degree burglary, first-degree attempted burglary, two counts of destruction of property $1,000 or more, and destruction of property less than $1,000. Parties agreed to 21-to-26 years of imprisonment, subject to the judge’s approval at sentencing…