Evelyn Arroyo : Judge Denies Murderer’s New Trial Motion: Legal Setback for Convicted Criminal

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Murderer new trial denied
2. Convicted murderer appeal rejection

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe denied Marvin Lopez’s appeal for a new trial after his murder conviction. Lopez, 43, was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend, Evelyn Arroyo, in 2014. The appeal was based on the prosecution’s failure to call Lopez’s uncle as a witness. Despite arguments from Lopez’s new attorney, John Machado, the judge dismissed the appeal, stating that the witness’s testimony would likely not have changed the outcome. Lopez’s sentencing is scheduled for July 12, with a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison. Stay tuned for updates on this case. Support D.C. Witness to help continue their mission.

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe recently ruled against Marvin Lopez’s request for a new trial following his conviction for the murder of his former girlfriend, Evelyn Arroyo, in a tragic incident that took place on December 24, 2014, on the 3900 block of 14th Street, NW in Washington, D.C.

**The Appeal for a New Trial**

Marvin Lopez, 43, was convicted by a jury of premeditated first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the fatal shooting of Evelyn Arroyo. His new attorney, John Machado, filed an appeal based on the fact that a key witness, identified as Lopez’s uncle and designated as a prosecution witness, was not called to testify during the trial.

**Judge’s Decision**

During the hearing, Judge O’Keefe questioned the relevance of the witness’s testimony, given that the prosecution had decided not to call him to the stand initially. The prosecutor argued that the witness’s testimony would likely not have impacted the outcome of the trial and therefore did not warrant a new trial.

**Defense Arguments**

Machado contended that the witness had valuable information that could have potentially influenced the case in Lopez’s favor. He claimed that the prosecution’s handling of the witness had made him uncooperative and that his testimony could have been beneficial to Lopez’s defense.

**Court Proceedings**

Despite the defense’s arguments, Judge O’Keefe ultimately denied the motion for a new trial, citing the lack of compelling evidence to warrant a retrial. He emphasized that the court was not going to relitigate the case and that Lopez’s sentencing would proceed as scheduled on July 12.

**The Future for Marvin Lopez**

As Marvin Lopez awaits sentencing, his legal team plans to review the trial transcript to gain a better understanding of the events that transpired. Judge O’Keefe indicated that the mandatory minimum sentence for the crime is 30 years imprisonment, highlighting the severity of the charges against Lopez.

**Stay Updated**

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