During closing arguments on Oct. 14, counsel delivered conflicting statements on who was the initial aggressor in a midnight stabbing.
Maurice Felder, 53, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault-grave risk while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed and possession of a prohibited weapon. This stems from his alleged involvement in a stabbing incident on the 1900 block of 7th Street, NW on Nov. 10. One individual sustained a stab wound to their chest.
On Oct. 8, the prosecution dismissed the aggravated assault charge.
In their closing arguments, the prosecution sought to cast Felder as the “first aggressor,” a legal distinction that would void any claim of self-defense.
The prosecution referenced a recording from the incident in which Felder allegedly asked the victim, “Do you want to die?”. This is “a terrifying phrase to hear,” a prosecutor said.
The prosecution argued that Felder acted out of anger and unnecessarily escalated the conflict by brandishing a knife. The prosecutor said Felder held the weapon long before the stabbing occurred and ignored multiple opportunities to walk away.
Video evidence shown in court included a witness saying, “Unc on that shit. Unc’s about to get him,” moments before the stabbing.
Two of the charges require jurors to determine beyond a reasonable doubt that Felder intended to kill the victim and inflicted serious bodily harm. Prosecutors drew on the trauma surgeon’s testimony and video footage to argue that Felder’s strike demonstrated both intent and potential lethality.
“You saw how much force the defendant used when he swung his arm,” one prosecutor said, miming a stabbing motion.
Defense attorney Matthew Rist countered that prosecutors were trying to “have it both ways” by crediting the victim for holding Felder back while faulting Felder for not leaving the scene.
He emphasized that Felder suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, arguing that fear for one’s life is a subjective standard. Surrounded by the victim and eight of the victim’s friends, Rist said, Felder reasonably believed he was in danger.
Rist also pointed out inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony, including that the prosecution had impeached its own witness during trial.
The defense attorney noted that a trauma surgeon from Howard University Hospital testified that the victim’s blood alcohol level was 0.138, almost double the legal limit.
In his closing argument Rist also focused on the surgeon’s earlier description of the wound, calling it small and superficial.
The wound proves that Felder’s intent was not to kill but to defend himself, the prosecutor said.
“Mr. Felder is surrounded,” Rist told the jury. “He didn’t kill anyone, and he didn’t seriously injure anyone.”
Before closing arguments, the surgeon told the jury that the wound was one-centimeter. The injury did not enter the chest cavity, the doctor said, and the victim was medically stable, coherent, and communicative.
The treatment included wound cleaning, one stitch, immunizations, antibiotics, and IV fluids for dehydration, the surgeon said.
However, the surgeon testified that the wound was close to the victim’s heart and that, if it had penetrated just a few millimeters deeper, it could have caused life-threatening internal bleeding and compromised lung function.
During cross-examination, the doctor clarified that the victim did not report pain and that the chest cavity is protected by layers of skin, fat, and pectoral muscle. The victim was discharged the same night and advised to return to work after two weeks.
Jurors also heard from an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who testified that he was on duty during the midnight shift. He said he was patrolling an area known for its nightlife activity.
Shortly after 1 a. m., the officer said he responded to a dispatch call reporting a stabbing near 7th and T Streets, NW. The dispatcher described the suspect as a Black male wearing a Capitals cap and scarf.
Within minutes, the officers located an individual matching that description. The officer testified that he approached the man—later identified as Felder—tactfully, forming a perimeter to prevent escape. Body-worn camera footage showed Felder identifying himself and complying with police instructions.
Officers recovered a knife at the scene, which the officer confirmed in court was the same weapon seized from Felder, noting its identifiable black grips. Prosecutors also presented a Capitals beanie and scarf as evidence, items the suspect was seen wearing in a video of the stabbing.
During cross-examination, Rist questioned the accuracy of the suspect’s description, noting that the dispatcher had said “cap,” not “beanie.” The officer responded that the scarf was the key identifying factor.
Rist presented a still image of the crime scene showing nearby construction, which the officer acknowledged could have obstructed visibility.
Rist also questioned the MPD officer’s disciplinary history, which included violations related to misuse of body cameras and unauthorized pursuits. The MPD officer admitted to feeling some pressure to remain in good standing with the US Attorney’s Office (USAO), but clarified that this stemmed from his cadet training and was not connected to his standing as a police officer.
Jurors began deliberations on Oct. 14. Deliberations are expected to continue on Oct. 15.
