Teen held for trial in waitress murder
Donte Johnson, the North Philadelphia man arrested last month for the rape and murder of a popular Northern Liberties waitress, waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning.
Donte Johnson, the North Philadelphia man arrested last month for the rape and murder of a popular Northern Liberties waitress, waived his right to a preliminary hearing this morning.
Municipal Judge Jimmie Moore held Johnson for trial on charges of first-degree murder, rape, robbery and related counts in the June 2 strangulation death of Sabina Rose O'Donnell, 20.
Johnson, 18, of the 900 block of North 11th Street, entered the courtroom wincing and crying.
The defendant's sobs intensified as defense attorney Guy R. Sciolla informed him of his rights.
"What!," Johnson exclaimed softly, when Assistant District Attorney Richard Sax told the judge that his DNA had been recovered from two cavities of the victim's body.
In a police statement, Johnson said he followed O'Donnell to her home on North 4th Street in Northern Liberties because he wanted the racing bike that she was riding at around 2:50 a.m.
Before she could get off the bike, he said, he got the woman in a head lock, dragged her to a vacant lot on Orianna Street and raped her.
Johnson denied punching O'Donnell. He said she became unconscious when she fell on the ground.
"As that point, she already couldn't breathe because I had her in a choke hold," Johnson told police.
The Medical Examiner's Office listed the cause of death as strangulation, the manner as homicide.
