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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 5, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On March 5, a judge denied two motions that targeted expert witnesses in a murder case.
Christopher Lalchan
Dianna Lalchan, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the allegedly shooting 36-year-old Christopher Lalchan, her husband, in the Carrollsburg Condominiums located on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW in 2013.
The rejected motions tried to suppress testimonies from forensic psychologists that could be used in both the prosecution and defense’s arguments. The expert testimonies spoke about the defendant’s mental state during the time of the murder.
Dianna Lalchan
According to court documents, when considering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Battered Wife Syndrome, the defense’s expert said Lachlan’s actions showed that she “had low-self esteem. . . was fearful of her husband. . . made considerable efforts to lessen the risk of her getting killed.”
On the other hand, the prosecution’s expert said Lachlan, 33, was mentally capable of fabricating her domestic abuse story.
In addition to rejecting the motions, Judge Beck told counsel that they have until March 11 to file any other expert notices they wish to present during trial.
Lalchan is currently released on personal recognizance. She is scheduled to begin trial on March 6.