DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan delayed a homicide trial, which was slated to begin on Nov. 18, by a year due to the defendant’s recently discovered hyperthyroid condition during a Sept. 3 hearing.
The disease causes the thyroid gland to be overactive releasing too much of the hormone thiroxine possibly resulting in mood swings, nervousness or panic attacks.
John Woods, 71, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during crime of violence for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 60-year-old Geno Freeman on the 6000 block of Chillum Place, NE, on Feb 19, 2021. Freeman died from a gunshot wound to his head.
During the hearing, Kevin Mosley, Woods’ attorney, alerted the court of his plan to invoke an insanity plea arguing the defendant was not criminally responsible for his actions because mental illness prevented him from knowing right from wrong or controlling his behavior.
On Aug. 12, the defense filed an expert notice revealing that Woods had a hyperthyroid condition, causing a hormonal imbalance with potential mental side effects, including anxiety and irritability. Due to the diagnosis, Mosley plans to add the hyperthyroid conditiona a justification for their insanity defense.
“They gave us a theory that we had no way of knowing they would have,” said the prosecution. “This is a completely new argument that the [prosecution] was not aware of.”
The prosecution asked the court to consider a continuation of the trial, which would move it from Nov. 18, 2025 to Nov. 9, 2026, and asked for an extension for the prosecution to file for an additional expert witness notice.
The prosecutor told Judge Ryan that their expert isn’t going to be able to address the thyroid issue because he is a psychologist not an endocrinologist capable of explaining how gland system affects behavior. According to the prosecution, the expert will need ten-to-12 weeks to review the new documents.
She argued that because the prosecution was notified on Aug. 12 of the defense’s new expert, the defense did not give them ample time to prepare for trial.
“The defense had the burden to give the [prosecution] an expert witness early,” said the prosecutor.
The judge addressed the comment with a short response.
“I don’t know about that,” said Judge Ryan. “The defense doesn’t have that burden.”
Mosley argued that the prosecution’s expert is requesting an exorbitant amount of time for the analysis.
“The lionshare of the records is 740 pages,” said Mosley. “Our expert took three weeks. There is no need for the amount of time that the prosecution requested. We are asking for the witness to have a reasonable amount of time. One year is not reasonable.”
The prosecution responded experts cannot be hired in September and October due to recent budget cuts, which was acknowledged by the defense.
“The 10-to-12 weeks isn’t something just made up,” said the prosecutor. “The defendant must be interviewed. It’s not just about reviewing documents.”
Parties are slated to reconvene Dec. 1.
