Probable Cause Found for Defendant in Domestic Stabbing

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At a preliminary hearing on July 12, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe found probable cause a defendant should stand trial for a stabbing stemming from domestic violence.

Aron Williams, 33, was charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence related stabbing that occurred on Feb. 24, on the 300 block of 37th Street, SE. A woman sustained life-threatening injuries during the incident.

During the hearing, O’Keefe cited the gruesome nature of the attack, the many months the defendant had to to think about how to respond before his arrest on July 1, and the fact that he was able to leave the crime scene as probable cause to support his ruling.

Prosecutors argued the attack which resulted in ten stab wounds, along with the fact that Williams was able to walk away while the victim was not able to move.

They argued that while the victim and Williams had been married since February 2022, they were on bad terms since November 2023 given that he mistreated her.

The lead detective on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified that the victim told him in November 2023 she did not want to live with Williams any longer, but felt bad for him as he did not have family to house him, so she continued letting him live in their apartment.

The detective testified that she had stab wounds all around her face and body, resulting in her gums and teeth showing. She was also stabbed on her wrists down to the bone.

The detective also testified that when MPD officers responded to the 911 call, blood smears were found along the walls and the victim propped up in a chair covered in blood. The victim was immediately taken to Howard University Hospital where she needed immediate stitches and surgery.

The victim told the detective while the couple was arguing one of Williams’ friends knocked on their apartment door to get something, and the victim remembered Williams looking enraged with his fists balled at his side.

The prosecutor stated that based on the victim’s interview, Williams allegedly started to strangle her and the two fell back onto a chair collapsing while the victim tried to get away. Williams then allegedly reached for a hunting knife that was lying on a nearby chair.

The prosecutor argued that the victim remembered asking Williams, “What are you going to do, stab me?” Williams allegedly began slashing and stabbing at the victim while she begged him to stop and to call an ambulance. The victim recalled feeling as if she would bleed to death.

Williams’ defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, argued that both parties were heavily intoxicated at the time of the attack. According to Williams, both had been awake straight for the past four days and had been drinking alcohol, taking MDMA, and cocaine.

Claudio argued that intent was negated because of intoxication. According to Claudio, Williams claimed that he did not realize what was occurring and when he “came to” stopped immediately, which Claudio argued meant there was no specific intent to kill.

Claudio also stated that there was grounds for self defense as Williams recounted the victim holding the hunting knife first and sustained a slash wound on his arm.

She argued that Williams recounted the couple had gotten into an argument over a relationship that he was in with another woman at the time.

Further, Claudio said MPD officers were unable to find surveillance footage or the hunting knife or witnesses.

The prosecutor said Williams was not so intoxicated that he continued the attack while the victim was begging him to stop and to call an ambulance because she was bleeding out.

Following the finding of probable cause, Claudio requested Williams be released on home monitoring to obtain mental health and substance abuse treatment unavailable in the DC Jail.

Prosecution argued Williams fled the scene and remains a threat to the community.

According to the prosecution, Williams was arrested at the DC Superior Court when he arrived for a divorce hearing. Williams also had prior a conviction for being armed.

Judge O’Keefe passed on ruling on Williams’ release status, as he needed more time to look at the operative law and figure out what ruling would best apply.

Court is slated to reconvene on July 16.