Explosive developments in court today in the Denna Campbell murder case.
Just today, on August 13, 2025, Judge John C. Moffett held a bond review hearing in the murder charge against Amir Ali. (Case No. D-06-CR-25-025450). The judge released Mr. Ali on conditions prior to trial. Here are some important things to know.
Background on the Murder of Officer Denna Campbell.
Officer Denna Fredericka Campbell, a 24-year-old Metropolitan Police Department officer in Washington, D.C., was tragically murdered on September 16, 1995, in her White Oak, Maryland apartment. She had been shot five times, and her department-issued handgun, believed to be the murder weapon, was never recovered. At the time, she had been a police officer for four years and was known for her heroic actions, including saving four victims from a burning van in 1993.
Ali was her boyfriend at the time and lived with her. Ali was initially charged with her murder in 1995, but the charges were dropped two months later for reasons that remain unclear. Trial counsel at today’s hearing had heard rumors there was some kind of exculpatory evidence in the case that tended to point to Ali not being guilty of the crime.
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No New Evidence in the Case Despite Prosecutor Proclaiming Otherwise.
After a “cold-case” investigation the police and elected prosecutor Mike McCarthy decided to re-charge the case just days ago. In a recent statements in the news, McCarthy stated the following:
During Wednesday’s news conference announcing Ali’s arrest this week, State’s Attorney McCarthy said prosecutors now have substantially more evidence than they did 30 years ago.
In Court today, Donna Fenton, representing the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office at the bond hearing, was asked whether there was any new evidence from thirty years ago. She said there is no new evidence but they are hopeful to have DNA results by September.
These comments are completed inconsistent and the local press should reach out to the State’s Attorney’s Office to see why such opposite positions have been taken within their own office on this case.
The lawyers at Seddiq Law Firm, Mirriam Z. Seddiq and Justin Eisele, have over 40 years of legal experience. If you or a loved one need an experienced defense lawyer, give us a call.
Amir Ali is charged under the name Kenneth Wonsom despite his Legal Name Change.
Counsel for Mr. Ali told Judge Moffett that Mr. Ali changed his name over two decades ago because of his conversion to Islam. Court records indicate that Mr. Ali followed the legal process for changing his name. (C-02-FM-21-003055). There are different schools of thought on changing your name after converting to Islam, but it is certainly not an uncommon practice. Those who change their name do so for various reasons, such as wanting to feel closer to their faith.
We Will Continue to Follow The Denna Campbell Case
Bringing a case 30 years later with no new evidence implicates many constitutional protections for those accused of crimes. Especially important here is a defendant’s right to a fair trial. Defense witnesses may be dead, evidence lost, and a defendant has significantly less chance of a fair trial 30 years after the event.
