During a hearing in which the defendant refused to appear DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz denied the defense attorney’s request to withdraw from a case on Aug. 26.
Tiffany Taylor-Gray, 23, is charged with first-degree murder for her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 53-year-old Fasil Teklemariam on the 1300 block of Peabody Street, NW, on April 5, 2024.
Taylor-Gray was not present before the court, as she refused to get off the bus at the courthouse for the second time. Defense attorney Eduardo Balarezo said Taylor-Gray was refusing to speak with him during legal visits to the jail and that he was unsure how to proceed.
Balarezo explained he cannot represent Taylor-Gray if she is not present, which is why he filed a motion to withdraw from the case.
The rosecutor suggested Judge Kravitz could issue a court order that requires Taylor-Gray to attend hearings. She explained that it “sounds ridiculous,” but that a court order may induce Taylor-Gray to get off the bus and comply.
Kravitz said he a contempt order will likely change anything because Taylor-Gray is serving a lengthy sentence for an unspecified crime in another jurisdiction.
Judge Kravitz said there is “not a proper basis to grant the motion” for Balarezo to withdraw from the case. He indicated there was no suggestion Balarezo had “caused any rupture,” and that they have no reason to believe Taylor-Gray won’t act the same with a different attorney.
Judge Kravitz also suggested that they could set a new court date in hopes of speaking with Taylor-Gray about the importance of showing up to her own court hearings.
“A person cannot prevent their own prosecution,” he said.
However, Judge Kravitz will research the matter and encourged counsel to do likewise.
Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 11.
