A defense attorney’s impromptu explanation to the court that his client wished to represent himself in a stabbing case got a chilly reception before DC Superior Court Justice Michael Ryan on Oct. 9.
Ovid Gabriel, 20, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed and assault on a police officer for his alleged involvement in a stabbing at the DC Jail on Aug. 3. One officer was injured during the incident.
According to court documents, Gabriel allegedly stabbed the officer nine times after he was ordered into his cell by the officer.
Reading from folded up notebook papers Gabriel brought with him to court, Gabriel’s defense attorney Raymond Jones announced that Gabriel wished to represent himself. Judge Ryan stopped Jones in his tracks before he could read more from Gabriel’s notes.
“I think that [the motions] will need to come through you Mr. Jones,” Judge Ryan said.
Judge Ryan added that should Gabriel choose to represent himself, the parties must meet in a formal process to go over Gabriel’s rights and review elements of the case. Gabriel is already representing himself for a separate assault on a police officer incident from 2024.
Jones complicated matters further when he informed Judge Ryan that he and prosecutors were working out the final details in a plea agreement.
“We were still discussing plea negotiations and we were at a point where we were almost in agreement,” Jones said.
Judge Ryan informed Gabriel that working out a plea agreement with prosecutors as his own representative posed enormous challenges and urged Jones to speak with Gabriel about the issue. Jones said that he would speak more with Gabriel about the effect self-representation might have on his ability to negotiate a plea deal.
Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 14.
