Stabbing Defendant Had to ‘Make a Decision to Protect My Life’

By Phoebe McConnell [former] , Cameron Horne [former] - November 7, 2024
Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Victims |

A stabbing defendant claimed self-defense in a dispute with the victim, who suffered 21 stab wounds, in trial arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Nov. 6.

Devan Green Jr., 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, kidnapping while armed, kidnapping while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in a Sept. 19, 2023 stabbing incident on the 500 block of 58th Street, SE.

Green testified he was not the aggressor in the incident.

Both the victim and the defendant testified the altercation began because of the victim’s infidelity and Green’s attempting to pack up and leave. 

Green confirmed that the victim entered their apartment speaking to someone he did not know on the phone. Green waited in the bathroom to try and ascertain who it might be before confronting the victim and heard her say, “He’s a great guy, but I’m a little detached.”

Green stated that he confronted the victim and learned that it was a man the victim had just met picking up her son from school. Hearing this, Green decided he wanted to leave the relationship.

Green testified he began packing his things and heard the victim state, “You don’t do anything for me,” adding that the victim was generally unaffected by Green’s leaving. In retaliation, Green began packing all of the items he had purchased for the victim as well, including a pair of work pants.

According to Green, there was a tug of war over a pair of pants when he was packing up and the victim fell to the floor and hit her head. While on the ground, she “bear hugged” herself around Green’s calf and allegedly bit him. 

Green recalled a loud commotion outside the apartment from the victim’s family members, and was afraid they were setting him up, as they tried forcing their way into the apartment. 

According to Green, there was a back and forth between unlocking and locking the locks from both sides of the door so Green barricaded the door with a bookstand, and a purple knife on top.

While moving the shelf under the doorknob, the purple kitchen knife fell to the floor, Green testified.

Green went to find the victim on the balcony of the apartment, seeing she was armed with a knife upon opening the door. Green claimed that he took one step toward the victim and she lunged at his throat with the knife in hand. Green blocked the blade, suffering a minor cut on his neck and bleeding from his hands as he was holding the blade to protect his throat. 

Green testified he wrestled the knife away from the victim and set it down inside, telling the victim to call her family off, and leaving the room to comfort the victim’s child and put him in the bedroom with their dog.

When Green heard more thuds from outside the apartment’s main door he went to hold the door closed while the victim grabbed the purple knife from the ground and the red knife Green had set down.

According to Green, the victim then lunged at him stabbing his right abdomen before he could, again, wrestle one of the knives out of her hands.

The cycle of Green holding the door closed, and the victim’s lunging at him continued, however, Green was able to move out of the way and, allegedly in self-defense, stabbed the victim in the left abdomen, according to Green. 

Green then alleged that both parties retreated, the victim looked down at the wound and revealed she was pregnant. Prosecutors objected because the information was under seal, and the comment was stricken from the records and the jury was told not to take this into consideration for their verdict. 

Green, fighting through tears on the stand, persisted, recounting two more instances of the victim’s lunging at him after hearing this emotional news. Green stabbed the victim in the leg, again allegedly in self-defense.

When the victim moved to attack Green for the final time, Green testified he believed he needed to “make a decision to protect my life.” According to Green, “I close my eyes and just start wildly swinging the knife” until he can hear the victim screaming, “Ok I’m done I’m done.” 

Green said he watched the victim fall to the ground and could hear the victim’s family beginning to break through the door. “I knew it had to be bad,” Green said on the stand, but he decided to flee.

Green ran to the bathroom, looked at his injuries, dropped the knife, and jumped out the window and passed out in a backyard. 

Green did not call police or go to a hospital, fearing that no one would believe what happened, until he was arrested on Oct. 20, 2023. The court was shown photos of the defendant’s stab wounds from the date of his arrest.

The intensive care unit (ICU) doctor who treated the victim in the hospital also completed her testimony, confirming that had the victim not received medical attention she likely would have died. She added that the injuries sustained by the victim could nonetheless have unknow effects.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene Nov. 7.