Columbus man takes plea, avoids murder trial for 2018 shooting
“Retrials on murder cases are very difficult for the victims’ families. Often they are retraumatized from the retrial. I believe in this case, they found this to be an acceptable resolution.” Franklin County First Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb
A Columbus man is facing 18 years behind bars after striking a plea deal with Franklin County prosecutors to avoid a murder trial for fatally shooting a man in 2018.
Marquis Denzell Braxton, 30, of the South Side, admitted he caused the July 31, 2018 shooting death of 27-year-old Derrich Franklin Bradford and also shot a woman who survived inside a home on the 700 block of Byron Avenue on the East Side.
Columbus police previously said an argument preceded the early morning shooting and Braxton fled before being arrested later.
Braxton and Bradford had previously been incarcerated together and knew each other for a long time, according to prosecutors. Braxton was incarcerated on a six-year sentence for his guilty plea to a 2011 aggravated robbery charge, according to Franklin County Common Pleas Court records.
Braxton first faced a jury trial in 2020 on charges related to this incident, including counts of aggravated murder and aggravated burglary. But the jury hung on all counts.
After jury selection began Monday for another aggravated murder trial for Braxton, a deal was reached and the trial ended before it started. Braxton pleaded guilty Tuesday to involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder and having a weapon while under disability (possessing a gun as a convicted felon).
Prosecutors asked for other charges to be dismissed.
At the joint recommendation of prosecutors and Braxton’s attorney, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Andy Miller sentenced Braxton on Tuesday to 18 years in prison.
If Braxton had been convicted of aggravated murder, he would have received a life sentence with the opportunity for parole after 20 years (or more for firearm specifications).
Franklin County First Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb, head of the office’s criminal division, told The Dispatch, “there were evidentiary issues based on the age of the case and the relationship of the men.”
Grubb said some of the law enforcement witnesses have retired and some of the civilian witnesses “had some recall issues.” One of the witnesses is currently in prison, according to Grubb.
“Retrials on murder cases are very difficult for the victims’ families. Often they are retraumatized from the retrial,” Grubb said. “I believe in this case, they found this to be an acceptable resolution.”
Braxton’s attorney, Jeffrey Basnett, did not return a message left by The Dispatch on Tuesday. jlaird@dispatch.com @Lairdwrites