The prosecution and defense disputed whether a defendant stabbed the victim in self-defense during a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on June 10.
Daniel Chapman, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 43-year-old Antoine Ealey on July 22, 2023 on the 2300 block of L’Enfant Square, SE.
Court documents state that Ealey sustained four sharp force injuries: two to his back, one to his left arm, and one to his upper left shoulder.
“This is not going to be a whodunit,” the prosecution declared in their opening statements.
Prosecutors alleged Chapman was hanging out with three of his friends in the alley next to his apartment when Ealey approached them. They claimed Chapman was unhappy with Ealey’s presence and allegedly kicked him three times. Ealey then reportedly collected his bags and walked away, but Chapman followed him and stabbed him four times.
Prosecutors described the case as a “simple and clear story,” based on their assertion that Chapman followed Ealey. They plan to present video evidence during the trial.
Gail Engmann, Chapman’s attorney, disputed the prosecution’s account and argued her client legitimately acted in self-defense.
Engmann alleged Ealey picked a fight with Chapman’s friends and Chapman’s only intention was for Ealey to leave. She said Chapman and Ealey’s fight went back and forth and “within a matter of seconds it’s over.”
“Mr. Chapman only used his knife when he had to,” said Engmann. Engmann asserted Chapman was faced with a deadly threat because Ealey allegedly said “How about I kill you” and struck Chapman with his stun gun.
Ealey was “threatening to make Mr. Chapman’s next breath his last,” said Engmann.
Engmann added that Ealey was allegedly under the influence of the drugs PCP and K2, a synthetic verison of marijuana that is considered dangerous, which she claimed caused him to act unpredictably violent and erratic.
The trial is scheduled to resume on June 11.
