Judge asks for extra time to consider mother, son’s severance pay in murder case

By Mackenzie Konjoyan, Ben Dickson, Thomas Hinton – July 3, 2024
Stories of the Day | Murders | Shootings |

District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan announced a delay in ruling on a motion to separate the co-defendants in the murders of a mother and son from the other defendants in the case to allow them to more thoroughly analyze the evidence and case law during a hearing scheduled for July 2.

Jaquell Jackson, 20, and Chakeatia Jackson, 39, have been charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon for allegedly shooting 37-year-old Tarshaqua Chappell on September 15, 2021, in the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.

According to court documents, the murder stemmed from a verbal argument between Chakeatia and Chappell at Ballou High School in the 3400 block of 4th Street, SE. After the argument, Chakeatia and Jaquell were allegedly seen pointing at Chappell’s vehicle and shots were fired in the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE.

Jaquell, through his defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, filed a motion to separate the defendants.

Judge Raffinin said she could not make a decision on the motion because she needed more time to consider it.

Judge Raffanin asked the prosecution to explain what surveillance footage the witnesses saw when they identified Jaquell Jackson. She also reviewed about four additional witnesses who were not asked to identify Jaquell outside of court.

Judge Raffanin asked McDaniel to present a ruling describing a situation in which separating the cases between a mother and son, co-defendants, helped facilitate deliberations.

The defense also expressed concern about the relationship between Jaquell and Chakeatia if either were used as a witness in the other’s case.

The prosecutor said it was not the same situation, but he was aware of a case recently argued by District of Columbia Supreme Court Judge Rainey Brandt involving a mother and son who were co-defendants.

The party is scheduled to meet again on July 16.

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