A trial date has been set for the man accused of robbing four transgender women and murdering a man.
According to court records, Matthew White will stand trial March 19, 2018, for the crimes.The trial is set for 9 a.m. in Room 507 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. Judge Barbara A. McDermott will preside with Assistant District Attorney Danielle Bunting-Burkavage for the prosecution, and Timothy J. Tarpey representing the defendant.
The plaintiffs positively identified White as the suspect during a court hearing in March.
In the first incident, White allegedly robbed three transgender women of cash and cell phones in a home where they all lived together on the 1300 block of North 52nd Street.
Aly Damian, one of the roommates, said she exchanged sex acts for money from White. Damian testified that the suspect tried to pursue “more” but she was not interested.
On Jan. 8, Saleem Singleton allegedly saw White outside of their kitchen window as he was shouting Damian’s name. White then entered the home and pointed a gun at Singleton’s head, demanding money, she testified. White eventually gestured Singleton to Damian’s room where Damian and Miayanna Brooks, the third roommate, were located. He stole cash and cell phones from the three women before fleeing the scene, the victims testified.
The following night, Vivian Royster was expecting White in her home on the 5400 block of Girard Avenue.
After entering the home, White pulled a gun on Royster in her bedroom, she testified at a March 1 hearing. Her boyfriend, Barry Jones, whom Royster said sensed a disturbance, entered the room and attempted to fight White. The suspect allegedly shot Jones in the face and Royster in the shoulder. Jones was later pronounced dead at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.