DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan ordered an additional mental health evaluation for a homicide defendant on April 3.
Isaiah Trotman, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, 13 counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, 27 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and 13 counts of kidnapping while armed for his alleged involvement in a Feb. 1, 2023 shooting at the Potomac Avenue Metro Station located on the 1400 block of Potomac Avenue, SE. The shooting fatally injured 64-year-old Robert Cunningham and two additional victims sustained gunshot wounds.
During the hearing, Judge Ryan reviewed aspects of the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) report filed on March 11, analyzing Trotman’s mental competency. To stand trial, a defendant must understand the charges and be able to assist their lawyer.
According to Judge Ryan, Trotman wasn’t able to get a full competency evaluation because he was selectively responding to questions from the psychiatrist. The judge said it was unclear if Trotman was unwilling or unable to be examined.
The prosecutor said the report made it clear the psychiatrist who evaluated Trotman thought he was malingering. Trotman’s higher functioning mental state must be juxtaposed to the apparent symptoms he’s exhibiting, the prosecutor read from the report. In addition, she said a CT scan of Trotman’s brain showed a lack of abnormalities that would be present if he did have a mental condition.
Ashley Prather-Guzman, Trotman’s attorney, noted that in spite of the detailed psychiatric history outlined in the report a private psychiatrist did the same tests and found Trotman wasn’t malingering.
In addition, Prather-Guzman brought up concerns about the DBH report, questioning the psychiatrist’s competency and the use of CT scans. According to Prather-Guzman, CT scans don’t pick up on structural abnormalities, only MRIs do.
Prather-Guzman also brought up Trotman’s diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis, which affects both his physical and mental health. The disease involves the breakdown of muscle tissue that leads to the release of muscle fiber contents into the blood.
Prather-Guzman said she was unable to take a position on whether Trotman was competent enough to stand trial because this hearing was the first time she had seen him all week. She and Trotman’s other attorney, Mani Golzari, tried to meet with Trotman earlier at the DC Jail but were turned away because Trotman was “not himself” and having an “episode,” according to Prather-Guzman.
Judge Ryan questioned the validity of the competency report, saying “I don’t think it is a competency report,” so much as a detailed report of Trotman’s mental health history.
He told parties he’s happy to read any additional information they provide on Trotman’s mental status. However, he will be ordering another full competency report to try and get a definitive answer on whether Trotman is competent enough to stand trial.
Before dismissing the parties, Judge Ryan asked Trotman to cooperate with the doctor who will administer the evaluation because it’s “very important.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on May 4.
