The state’s highest court ruled that the evidence was sufficient to support a conviction of involuntary manslaughter under gross negligence and failure to perform legal duty theories of involuntary manslaughter, according to the opinion written by Judge Shirley Watts.
Beckwitt, 30, is a millionaire stock trader who was initially convicted of second-degree depraved heart murder and involuntary manslaughter in April 2019 for the death of Askia Khafra, 21, according to the opinion. He was sentenced to nine years in prison.
The murder conviction was later overturned by the Maryland Court of Special Appeals in January 2021, according to Bethesda Magazine. After the special appellate court’s ruling, Beckett filed an appeal of the manslaughter conviction, saying the original trial’s jury should have been instructed on the type of involuntary manslaughter to consider. A conditional cross-appeal from the state was filed after Beckwitt’s appeal.
The Court of Appeals said in June 2021 that they would consider both appeals, Bethesda Magazine reported.
Watts wrote Beckwitt failed to provide Khafra with a reasonably safe workplace, which he did with “reckless indifference as to endangerment of the victim and that failure constituted gross negligence.” The appellate court said the evidence was sufficient enough for the jury to conclude that Beckwitt’s conduct was the actual and legal cause of Khafra’s death, Watts wrote.
While what Beckett directed Khafra to do while working demonstrated “reckless disregard for human life,” it wasn’t at the level of conduct to ascertain it was the cause of death, Watts wrote.
Khafra had reached out to Beckwitt, who was 26, when he pitched an idea of a smartphone application to Beckwitt, the opinion says. Beckwitt invested $10,000.
Beckwitt hired Khafra to dig tunnels that he had started under his Bethesda residence due to a fear of nuclear war with North Korea, the opinion said. Khafra started digging the tunnels in early 2017 and would be blindfolded during the trip to Beckwitt’s home, according to the opinion. While working, he was not allowed to come up to the first or second floors of the residence.
On Sept. 3, 2017, a fire broke out in the basement, which Beckwitt was alerted to by the sound of an explosion, according to the opinion. Beckett went to tell Khafra but couldn’t see him through the smoke and left the basement through a door that led outside because he feared he would not make it back to the first floor.
Beckwitt called 911. Firefighters found Khafra’s body in the basement.
Trash and debris in the basement had severely hindered Khafra’s chance at escape, Watts wrote.
