Murder Trial Moves to January 3, 2028
Christian Wilkerson's trial for the 2022 fatal stabbing of Rashawn Phifer has been rescheduled to a new date set by DC Superior Court.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Crime — General
DC Superior Court has rescheduled the homicide trial of Christian Wilkerson, 22, to January 3, 2028, after the original November 16 date no longer fit the defense's schedule. The court also removed Wilkerson's ankle monitor, citing his full compliance with home confinement conditions.
Why it matters
The rescheduling reflects scheduling conflicts among the judge, prosecution, and defense that pushed the trial more than a year past its original date. For residents of Washington, the case involves a fatal stabbing on Riggs Road, NE, and its progress through the local court system.
Christian Wilkerson, 22, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the November 11, 2022 killing of Rashawn Phifer, 20. The judge has rescheduled the trial to January 3, 2028, and a trial readiness hearing is set for December 10, 2027.
The players
Christian Wilkerson
The 22-year-old defendant charged with second-degree murder while armed, who has complied with home confinement conditions for two and a half years.
DC Superior Court
The Washington, D.C. trial court handling the case, which set the new trial date and approved removing the defendant's ankle monitor.
The details
Phifer died from four stab wounds to the torso, neck, chest, and back in the 500 block of Riggs Road, NE. Judge Michael Ryan approved the new trial date and allowed Wilkerson's ankle monitor to be removed, as the prosecution did not object.
Timeline
November 11, 2022: Rashawn Phifer is fatally stabbed on Riggs Road, NE.
November 16, 2026: Original trial date, later rescheduled.
April 23, 2027: Status hearing scheduled.
December 10, 2027: Trial readiness hearing scheduled.
January 3, 2028: Rescheduled homicide trial date.
Legal Context
DC Superior Court uses home confinement with electronic monitoring as a pretrial condition for defendants awaiting trial in serious cases. Wilkerson's removal from monitoring after two and a half years of compliance shows how the court manages long pretrial periods in homicide prosecutions.
Residents of Washington following local court proceedings can track the case's key dates in the court calendar. The schedule shows that serious felony trials can be delayed more than a year by competing court and attorney commitments.
The takeaway
Trial dates in serious criminal cases often shift because of scheduling conflicts among judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel. Readers following a case can check the court calendar for updates as the rescheduled dates approach.
What happens next
The parties are set to reconvene on April 23, 2027 for a status hearing, with a trial readiness hearing on December 10, 2027 ahead of the January 3, 2028 trial.
Further reading
For related coverage, see Crime — General in Washington.
