DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park granted a defense request to transfer a homicide defendant to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for medical treatment on April 9.
Desmond Barr, 25, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Ambria Farmer at the 3300 block of Fort Dupont Drive, SE, on July 13, 2024.
All of Barr’s charges face an aggravating factor of allegedly being committed during his release for a prior offense.
At the hearing, Barr’s attorney, Hannah Claudio explained to Judge Park that she and her co-counsel, Dominique Winters, formed a plan to have their client successfully transferred to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment of what has been described as an acute medical issue.
Claudio requested that Judge Park order the Department of Corrections (DOC) to immediately transfer Barr to MedStar Washington Hospital Center and that after treatment he is transferred directly to the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) for in-patient treatment.
Judge Park questioned whether the plan would succeed because they tried to transfer Barr there previously. Claudio explained that there was no communication between Howard University Hospital where Barr was previously admitted and MedStar Washington Hospital Center for a successful transfer. Now, the DOC can carry out the transfer themselves and be present with Barr at the emergency room until he is admitted to the hospital.
Under the proposed plan, DOC officers will wait with Barr until he is admitted at which time the Pretrial Service Agency (PSA) would place him on GPS monitoring.
Additionally, Winters stated that she will be present with Barr at the emergency room to make sure he is admitted to the hospital as soon as possible.
Judge Park accepted the defense plan and ordered the DOC to transfer Barr the following day.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 10.
