C M Y K B2
DAILY 03-11-10 MD SU B2 CMYK
B2
S KLMNO THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010
Murder trial begins in ’99 D.C. case
nesses to Baker’s disappearance alive.” with Baker in her car leaving the
Boyfriend charged with
or death. No murder weapon has Haines characterized Barnett 1999 party.
been found and no cause of as controlling, jealous and often The witness said Barnett was
JOHN KELLY’S WASHINGTON
killing woman, whose death established. When Baker’s violent, a man whose anger on a bridge about midnight, pull-
body was never found
car was discovered almost a “erupted suddenly, often without ing a large object wrapped in a
week after her disappearance, any warning.” plastic garbage bag from the
drops of her blood were found in The two had lived together off trunk of a car.
by Keith L. Alexander the trunk, but no DNA from Bar- and on in Baker’s house in the Haines also acknowledged
nett. 400 block of 44th Street NE with that there were some mistakes by
It’s been nearly 11 years since The trial pits two of the Dis- their twins, who were 5 when Ba- police in the investigation. “The
Yolanda Baker’s family has seen trict’s most formidable lawyers ker disappeared. system failed [Baker] during her
her. So much time had passed against each other: Assistant U.S. Haines talked about how the life and after her death,” she said.
that authorities declared her le- Attorney Amanda Haines and couple often argued and fought, In her opening statement,
gally dead last year, although her criminal defense attorney Nikki so much so that Baker obtained a Lotze told the jury that Barnett
body has never been found. Lotze. restraining order, keeping Bar- was innocent and that the DNA
This week, Baker’s family Haines is no stranger to prose- nett away from her for about 18 from two other individuals was
poured into three rows of Judge cuting complex murder cases. months from 1997 to early 1999. found in the trunk of Baker’s car.
Michael L. Rankin’s third-floor She’s one of the lead attorneys Shortly before she disappeared, a She said two other men had been
courtroom in D.C. Superior prosecuting Ingmar Guandique, District judge had ordered Bar- driving Baker’s car around town
Court, hoping for some closure charged in the 2001 kidnapping nett to pay Baker child support when it was discovered.
in the death of the woman they and killing of former federal in- for the twins. “There is more evidence that
nicknamed “Princess.” tern Chandra Levy. That trial is Three days after Baker was last one of these two other men did it,
Last summer, authorities ar- scheduled to start in October. seen, family members filed a not Mr. Barnett,” she said.
rested Baker’s boyfriend, Ter- In her 30-minute opening missing-person report with the Lotze said that her client coop-
rence Barnett, 45, the father of statement Wednesday, Haines D.C. police. Baker’s picture was erated with the police investiga-
the D.C. woman’s twin children. told the jury that on the morning displayed on the department’s tion and that Baker’s family
He has been charged with first- of Aug. 1, 1999, after attending a missing-person Web site, and thinks Barnett killed Baker be-
degree murder. family party together in Suit- friends and family members cause relatives never approved of
It is only the third time a “no land, Barnett killed Baker, 35, af- passed out fliers and held can- the couple’s relationship.
body” murder case — the most ter an often-abusive seven-year dlelight vigils. Barnett played no Lotze later displayed pictures
ASHLEY HALSEY III/THE WASHINGTON POST
difficult for prosecutors — has relationship. part in the search for Baker, of Baker and Barnett, laughing
The District could use more parking meters that accept credit cards. been tried in the District in at On that day, she said, Baker Haines said. He waited another together and dancing with fami-
least 30 years, according to a “disappeared into the night.” three days before he approached ly and friends at the party, just
spokesman in the U.S. attorney’s Haines then walked over to Bar- police about Baker’s disappear- hours before she disappeared.
In the pursuit of D.C. parking
office. nett, seated next to Lotze, and ance. The trial is expected to last
Adding to the challenge for pointed to him: “Mr. Barnett was Haines said a witness saw Bar- about a month.
prosecutors is the lack of eyewit- the last person to see Ms. Baker nett just hours after he was seen alexanderk@washpost.com
longer than the two-hour limit
I
do not for one minute think businesses when we extended
that all Americans are the hours into the evening,” said
Montgomery schools are bracing for further cuts
guaranteed a parking space. DDOT spokesman John Lisle.
The pursuit of a parking space, “It’s not a complaint that people
yes — along with life, liberty and have to pay at night, it’s exactly Education, officials said Wednes- “I believe it is prudent that we But it remains unclear whether
the pursuit of happiness — but a what you said: What if I want to
meter with some time on it right go to a movie or park for more
Larger classes possible,
day. plan for significant reductions . . . layoffs would be necessary under
The plans are being made as because of the difficult fiscal the plan. More staff members
in front of your destination? No. than two hours?” officials say ahead of part of the annual budget alloca- times we are facing,” Weast wrote leave the system on average every
And yet I empathize with Lisle said they’re looking into
Leggett budget proposal
tions to individual schools within in a memo to schools last week. year, either through retirement
those readers who wrote me extending evening parking hours the system. They also are circu- In making the move, he is antici- or by finding jobs elsewhere, than
after my column a while back in some D.C. neighborhoods. “It lating immediately before County pating at least some reduction in the number proposed for elimi-
lamenting the increase in the comes down to, in some places Executive Isiah Leggett (D) an- the education budget. nation, officials said.
District’s parking fee and, more anyway: Can we make the meters by Michael Birnbaum nounces his countywide budget About 250 teaching positions “We’re going to try to avoid lay-
important, the lengthening two hours for part of the day, proposal Monday. The $2.3 bil- would be eliminated under offs,” said Dana Tofig, a spokes-
amount of time motorists are four hours for others? And what An extra student might have to lion budget that the school board Weast’s plan, the bulk of them in man for the Montgomery County
required to pay it. should the signs say?” squeeze into Montgomery Coun- passed last month includes few elementary schools. An addition- schools.
Thomas Clay of Accokeek was Another issue: Who carries 16 ty classrooms next year, and major program cuts, but at the al 110 jobs, including those of Final decisions on school sys-
typical. He and his wife enjoy quarters? We need more meters county schools are preparing for time Superintendent Jerry D. staff development teachers and tem programs will wait until af-
attending evening lectures that accept credit cards. That other cuts that go beyond the Weast listed proposed cuts he classroom aides, also would be ter the County Council approves
sponsored by the Smithsonian. includes those multispace budget approved last month by said could result from a decrease cut. So would an unspecified its budget this spring.
In the past, they’ve driven to meters and new solar-powered the Montgomery County Board of in county funding. number of central office jobs. birnbaumm@washpost.com
12th Street and Independence meters that DDOT is testing at
Avenue SW, waited till 6:30 p.m., five locations around the city.
parked, then gone into the S. As for the cost of D.C. parking,
Dillon Ripley Center, emerging Lisle thinks it’s pretty fair. “A lot
around 8:45 when the event was of cities, they’re already at $3 or
Police investigate death of 10-month-old in D.C.
over. $4 an hour. So $2 is . . . well, it’s
Now they have to leave obviously a jump from where we
lectures early, fearful of getting a were before, but in some places, might have been accidental, said Farish said the girl was the cou- nounced dead at 9:31 p.m.
ticket for overstaying a two-hour it’s still below what the market
Girl’s nanny sought
Capt. Michael Farish, a supervisor ple’s only child. The autopsy was to be conduct-
limit that goes until 10 p.m. They kind of calls for.” in the homicide unit. Detectives He said the nanny, carrying the ed Wednesday at the D.C. medical
don’t mind taking the Metro Ah, the market. The price of help from member of have interviewed the nanny and baby, emerged from the $1.2 mil- examiner’s office, Farish said. He
during the day — they park at parking must be the purest
mayor’s security detail
the parents, and “nothing jumps lion stone house shortly before 6 said police were withholding the
Anacostia and ride to L’Enfant real-world example of the laws of out to make this suspicious,” Far- p.m. and sought assistance from a names of the nanny and parents
Plaza or Smithsonian — but as supply and demand — with ish said. police officer assigned to Fenty’s out of respect for their privacy un-
two senior citizens, they don’t location, location, location by Paul Duggan “At this point, awaiting the re- security detail who was parked til investigators determine wheth-
feel safe doing that at night. thrown in. Just look at the “early sults of the autopsy, we’re not go- outside the mayor’s home. er a crime was committed. He de-
“We have no objection to bird” specials offered at parking D.C. homicide detectives are in- ing to elaborate any further on it,” The child was “unconscious scribed the parents as “beyond
carrying more quarters and garages around town. In some vestigating the death of a 10- he said. and unresponsive,” Farish said. distraught.”
paying for three or four hours,” neighborhoods, arrive by 9:30 or month-old girl who lapsed into Farish said the parents, whom “The police officer immediately “We’re talking about a couple
wrote Clay, a retired Episcopal 10 a.m. and it’s 10 bucks. In unconsciousness Tuesday night he described as a couple in their began all efforts to save the baby’s who aren’t young” in terms of be-
pastor. “It is just the two-hour others, it’s 20 bucks. while being cared for by a nanny 40s, were not home when the in- life, starting with [cardiopulmo- ing new parents, he said, adding
limit that is causing the problem. I think there’s a Nobel Prize in in her parents’ Northwest Wash- cident occurred in the 4600 block nary resuscitation]. After the first that the child was not adopted.
There are no other attractions — Economics awaiting whoever ington home, police said. of Argyle Terrace NW, near Rock series of CPR, the officer began re- “We’re talking about folks who
restaurants, theaters, etc. — that can come up with the equation The child, whom authorities Creek Park, a few doors from D.C. questing emergency assistance.” spent a long, long time trying to
would make parking on that accurately factors the did not identify, suffered “a pos- Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s house on Farish said the girl was taken to have a kid.”
Independence much sought after interplay of office occupancy, sible injury to the neck” that 17th Street NW. a hospital by ambulance and pro- dugganp@washpost.com
past 6:30. The parking spaces are cultural attractions, desirable
deserted by 9.” eateries and distance from
Meanwhile, over in Adams public transportation to arrive at
Morgan, business owners are parking rates.
also upset by the time limit, said
LOCAL DIGEST
Kristen Barden of the
Be afraid
neighborhood’s Business My former colleague Elizabeth MARYLAND shooting of Sean A. Perry, 18, po- said. — Anita Kumar
Improvement District. A long, Terry made me aware of a
leisurely lunch? A disturbing development on the
Bat disease spreads
lice said. The shooting, in the Police described the suspect as
3300 block of Donnell Drive in black, 30 to 38 years old, 5 feet 8
labor-intensive trip to the yeast extract front: The makers White-nose syndrome, a dis- the Forestville area, was a result inches tall, with short black hair.
Teacher arrested
hairdresser to get your tips of Marmite, the disgusting ease that has decimated bat popu- of a “personal dispute,” police She was wearing black pants, a A Fairfax County piano teacher
frosted? There might not be English condiment, have come lations across the East Coast, ap- said. green shirt, a blue or green lan- who was convicted of possessing
time. out with a new, super- pears to have spread to bats in Mercer was arrested in the yard with a white card on it and a child pornography more than a
With D.C. Council member Jim concentrated version. Called Maryland, state wildlife officials 1400 block of Elkwood Lane in black jacket or sweater. decade ago was arrested this
Graham’s help, Barden Marmite XO — for “extra old” — said Wednesday. Chapel Oaks, police said. Police ask that anyone with in- month and charged with a similar
negotiated a deal with the it is aged four times as long as Officials said they found sever- — Matt Zapotosky formation about the incident or crime, Fairfax County police said
Colonial Parking garage on 18th normal Marmite and is said to be al dead bats in a cave in western the woman call 240-773-6084 or Wednesday.
Street NW. Before 5 p.m. you can four times as strong. The name Maryland’s Allegany County on 866-411-TIPS (8477). Charles D. Dillon, 59, of the
park there for four hours for $6, and classy label allegedly call to Friday, as well as more than 200
Courthouse theft
— Dan Morse 6900 block of Spelman Drive in
provided you have your parking mind a fine port wine, though other bats that appeared “visibly Police released surveillance West Springfield was charged
ticket validated by an Adams I’m sure the taste calls to mind affected” by the disease. photos Wednesday showing a VIRGINIA March 1 with four counts of pos-
Morgan merchant. “But you the Odor Eaters of a If the diagnosis is confirmed, woman who they say stole a wal-
don’t have to buy anything,” grave-digging dipsomaniac. the state said, this would be the let from the Commissioner’s Of-
Court appointment
session of child pornography.
According to the Virginia State
Barden said. “You just have to If ever there was a time to slap first time white-nose syndrome fice, which is on the second floor The Virginia General Assembly Police sex offender registry, Dil-
walk in, hand them the parking a trade tariff on a foreign has been found in Maryland. of the Montgomery County Dis- on Wednesday selected William lon was convicted in federal court
ticket from the garage, and product, it’s now. The disease, in which bats de- trict Courthouse in Rockville. C. Mims, a former attorney gener- in 1998 of possession of child por-
they’ll put a sticker on it.” velop a white fungus along their “It was certainly a healthy dis- al and Republican legislator from nography with the intent to dis-
The folks at the District Chew the figurative fat with me muzzles, is harmless to humans. regard for the law,” said Cpl. Dan Loudoun County, to fill a vacancy tribute.
Department of Transportation during my online chat, Friday at noon. Many infected bats die. The dis- Friz, a police spokesman. on the Virginia Supreme Court. Fairfax County police arrested
seem to realize there’s a problem. Go to www.washingtonpost.com/ ease has spread to 10 states since The photos, according to po- Mims, 52, will replace Barbara Dillon in October for failing to in-
“We got a lot of feedback from discussions. it appeared in 2006. lice, show a woman casually Keenan, who last week was con- form state officials when he set up
State officials said that the dis- shopping after nabbing the wal- firmed by the U.S. Senate to the the Piano Dreams Web site,
ease might be spread by spelunk- let. Richmond-based U.S. Court of which advertises a studio that of-
ers and that people should stay Police said the woman entered Appeals for the 4th Circuit. fers lessons to children and
out of caves in affected states. the office about 1:06 p.m. Feb. 25. Mims served three terms in the adults. He was convicted on that
— David A. Fahrenthold Residents and police officers of- House and two in the Senate. He charge.
ten are in the office to file charges. completed the final year of Gov. State law requires that regis-
Home delivery 1-800-753-POST
Arrest in killing
By 1:18 p.m., police said, she Robert F. McDonnell’s term as at- tered sex offenders notify author-
makes good sense.
had used a credit card from the torney general in 2009 when he ities within 30 minutes of chang-
Police have arrested a Forest- wallet to make a $300 purchase resigned to run for governor. es to their Internet communica-
ville man in the fatal shooting of a at a Best Buy in the 1200 block of Mims was on the short list to fill a tion.
Clinton teenager last year, au- Rockville Pike, police said. She vacancy on the Supreme Court in The investigation in that case
thorities said Wednesday. made another purchase at Best 2007. led to the current charges, police
Maurice P. Mercer Sr., 34, was Buy and then bought items at a He is a partner at Hunton & said.
arrested Tuesday in the June 27 nearby Giant grocery store, police Williams in Richmond. — Maria Glod
SF
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According to today’s Local
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