DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied a homicide defendant’s motion for bond review on Jan. 31.
Oliver Gomes, 55, is charged with second degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal assault of 61-year-old Thomas Gray that occurred on the corner of 11th and L Streets, SE, on Oct. 14, 2022.
According to the prosecution, two individuals, identified as Gomes and Gray, were observed having an argument when Gomes allegedly picked up a wood plank and used it to hit Gray over the head. Gray was unconscious at the scene when officers arrived and was transported to The George Washington University hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Nov. 3, 2022.
Sara Kopecki, Gomes’ defense attorney, filed a release motion on Dec. 23 claiming Gomes acted in self-defense, insisting that Gray had a knife and started the fight.
The prosecution argued against the bond review, claiming that Gomes has six past bench warrants, multiple misdemeanor charges, and is currently being held for another case in which he is said to have hit his roommate over the head with a frying pan.
Gomes’ other defense attorney, Kevin Irving, stated that Gray had a knife and was threatening the defendant on the night of the incident, although the knife was never recovered from the scene.
Judge Kravitz stated that “this case does not strike me as a case where someone was out to kill somebody,” however, he denied the motion and stated that he’ll “wait and see what happens,” in regard to Gomes’ other case that will be tried on Feb. 11.
Parties will reconvene for a status hearing on Feb. 14.
