A stabbing defendant expressed concerns about his safety in jail and the speediness of his trial during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur on July 11.
Aaren Striplin, 43, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on July 4 on the 900 block of G St, NW. The victim received lacerations to the legs and was pepper sprayed in the eyes during the incident.
During the hearing, Striplin told the court he was involved in an altercation with other inmates at DC Jail which required him to be treated in the jail hospital.
“I don’t want to get a mental evaluation, I just want to go to trial,” Striplin said. “They are killing me at the jail.”
Striplin’s defense attorney, Adgie O’Bryant, asked Judge Arthur to schedule a preliminary hearing and release Striplin pending trial. Striplin argued he needed to be released in order to manage property he owns.
The prosecution asked for a mental observation hearing in the next few days and requested the defendant be detained.
“They might have killed me by then,” Striplin said, objecting to his continued incarceration.
Judge Arthur denied Striplin’s release motion, saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community if released.
Parties are set to reconvene on July 17.
