In Fatal Stabbing, Judge Upholds Premeditation Charge Despite Self-Defense Claim

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A jury heard testimony about an interaction between a homicide victim and a friend hours before his murder, after defense attorneys argued unsuccessfully to dismiss a premeditated charge in a fatal stabbing trial.

Aaron Jackson, 30, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Damohn Gill. The incident occurred on June 24, 2021, on the 3600 block of 22nd Street, SE.

Jackson’s defense attorney, Wole Faludun, motioned to dismiss the premeditated first-degree murder while armed charge after the prosecution rested its case on May 15.

Falodun argued that Jackson didn’t have enough time for his actions to be premeditated. He stated the defendant was seeing his family and “didn’t know Gill was going to be there.”

Falodun has previously stated Jackson acted in self-defense out of fear based on alleged prior altercations between him and Gill–one of which left the defendant in the hospital with three gunshot wounds in 2016.

“Premeditation can take place in a second or two,” the prosecution argued in response.

DC Superior Court Judge Micheal O’Keefe stated “the nature and deepness of the wounds show there was intent to kill.”

The prosecution has previously stated Gill sustained nine stab wounds to his face, back, and torso. One of these lacerations were three inches deep and caused his “intestines to spill out.”

The medical examiner previously testified that any of the stab wounds could have caused “death by itself.”

Judge O’Keefe denied the request to dismiss the charge based on the possibility premeditation was involved and that decision is ultimately up to the jury.

The defense later called a friend of Gill’s as their first witness.

The witness affirmed the last time she saw Gill was at a shopping mall parking lot on June 24, 2021, hours before his murder.

She confirmed that as she hugged Gill to greet him, she “felt something hard on his waistband.”

The witness stated Gill pulled up his shirt and revealed part of a firearm.

The defense has alleged Jackson saw Gill with a firearm on his waistband the day of the incident and his actions that followed were intended to protect his life.

The witness added she has no type of relationship with Jackson and had never heard about him at the time of the murder.

Falodun confirmed Jackson will be testifying on his own next time the court is in session.

Parties are set to return on May 20.