In a stabbing trial’s closing statements before DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on June 4, the defense focused on the victim’s initial false statements about how the attack began.
Tavonte Graham, 33, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury, and attempted robbery for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred on Dec. 22, 2025 at 4100 block of Ames Street, NE. The victim sustained multiple stab wounds throughout his body.
Graham is also charged with possession of an open container of alcohol for his alleged involvement in a Jan. 16 incident.
In their closing arguments, prosecutors noted the victim’s original report was that Graham posed as an Amazon driver and broke into the apartment after macing the victim at the door. However, prosecutors said the victim later revealed that the two met on a dating app. After engaging in sexual activity, the victim alleged Graham maced and stabbed him in an attempt to steal a pair of Louis Vuitton boots.
The prosecution claimed that “embarrassment and further stigmatization of homosexuality” is what hindered the victim from initially telling the truth.
“This is not a case of how two people met or what two people initially consented to do. It’s about a man who decided to attempt to rob a man who was taken advantage of,” the prosecution said.
Graham’s attorney, Craig Ricard, noted this initial lie multiple times during his closing statements saying, “If someone lies to you about something that significant, the next time that person speaks to you, don’t you pause?”
Ricard also emphasized that the boots were not part of the victim’s initial narrative but said he added them to his “inventive story.” The suspect escaped without the boots, the alleged motivation for the attack, noted Ricard. “Make that make sense,” he asked.
Before closing arguments, Ricard cross-examined the case’s lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who acknowledged that the medical staff initially told her the victim sustained seven-to-nine wounds. Later, the victim told the detective that he suffered 17 wounds, confirmed Ricard.
The detective confirmed on the stand that she drafted reports based on what the victim told her because no surveillance footage or witnesses were present during the incident.
In response to Ricard asking what occurred in the apartment, the detective said, “I know only what the [victim] told me.”
The prosecution also called an analyst from the Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) who explained more than 100 photos showing the victim’s wounds, crime scene, and other physical evidence.
In the photos, the victim had abrasions on the shoulder, neck, ear and back. The victim’s left arm had approximately seven open wounds. The victim’s back had multiple lacerations. Two of the wounds on his back were covered with tape and a paperclip.
The forensic scientist also brought physical evidence from the scene to present to the jury including the Louis Vuitton boots that the defendant reportedly attempted to steal.
According to the forensic scientist, one boot was located on the living room floor with suspected blood above the heel and the other boot was discovered wrapped in a bloody blanket on the living room couch, with suspected blood on the toe and tongue.
The victim’s pants worn at the time of the attack were also displayed in the courtroom and the forensic scientist identified four damage points on the pants. The analyst suspected the tears were a result of the attack and identified suspected blood on the tag and brand logo of the pants.
A can of pepper spray, a yankees hat, and the tag for the boots were also key pieces of evidence.
Parties will reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.
