A stabbing defendant was found not mentally competent to stand trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno onDec. 2.
William Clark, 45, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1600 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Sept. 9, 2023. One person was injured during the incident.
Clark is alleged to have stabbed one person in the abdomen because the victim was standing near his e-bike, according to court documents.
He was set to go to trial on Oct. 21, but did not show up to court on the day of jury selection and has since been re-arrested on a bench warrant, where he was evaluated by the Department of Behavioral Services (DBH) on Nov. 26. The results of his evaluation showed that Clark was not mentally competent to stand trial.
No one objected to the recommendations from the DBH report during the Dec. 2 hearing, and the parties, including Judge Salerno, agreed to send Clark to Saint. Elizabeth’s Hospital for a full psychiatric evaluation.
To stand trial, a defendant must understand the charges against him and be prepared to help his lawyer.
Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 16.
