Defense attorney says DNA on evidence not direct match for DeAndre Charles

Charles, 15, charged in fatal shooting of rabbi

MIAMI – A hearing to determine whether a teenager will be granted bail in the killing of a rabbi wrapped up Thursday.

DeAndre Charles, 15, has been held without bond on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery since he was arrested in December in the murder of Rabbi Joseph Raksin.

Defense attorneys argued Thursday that DNA found on evidence at the scene was not a direct match to Charles.

"It could be his. He could be a contributor, a possible contributor, but there could also be a million other people in Miami-Dade County that are possible contributors and we just didn't test them," Charles' attorney, Adam Goodman, said.

Police said Raksin, 60, was targeted in an attempted robbery on Aug. 9, 2014, while walking to a synagogue in northeast Miami-Dade.

Charles' family maintains that he was home at the time of the shooting.

The teen, who was a freshman at Miami Norland Senior High School when he was arrested, has a previous juvenile record that includes theft and resisting arrest without violence charges.

Miami-Dade County Judge Jason Bloch did not make a decision Thursday on whether to grant Charles bail.


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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

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Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010. Born and raised in Coral Gables, Liane has a unique perspective on covering news in her own backyard.

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