Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
Donate Now
By
D.C. Witness Staff
- November 27, 2019
Court
|
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
The prosecution in a murder trial rested their arguments on Nov. 26.
Sean Baker, 40, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 35-year-old Robert Wiggins on the 300 block of 37th St., SE. Baker was initially charged with assault with intent to kill. Baker is a transgender woman.
The medical examiner, who completed the autopsy, was the last person to testify for the prosecution. The prosecutors also played Wiggins and Baker’s 911 calls the day before the stabbing on Jan. 27, 2016.
The medical examiner said the stab wound found at the center of Wiggins’ chest was consistent with a kitchen knife being the murder weapon.
She also said the wound was three inches deep and the blade pierced through the right side of Wiggins’ heart, which was the cause of death. Pictures of the autopsy and stab wound were shown to the jury.
The medical examiner also said Wiggins tested positive for marijuana, opioids and cocaine in his toxicology report.
Following the medical examiner’s testimony, the jury heard an altercation between Baker and Wiggins on a 911 call.
On the first call played, you could hear Wiggins requesting an ambulance for Baker because she might have re-fractured her jaw.
In the second 911 call, Wiggins said he was being followed by Baker, who had a knife in her hand, and he could be heard telling her to get away from him.
Wiggins called law enforcement a third time, telling them that Baker was right behind him and urging officers to hurry up and arrive. “This ain’t the first little episode” he said.
Baker made ta final 911 call, saying a physical altercation happened between her and the victim. She admitted to following him so that he could not evade the police.
After the prosecution finished arguments, the defense motioned to acquit Baker because there was insufficient evidence of premeditation and this was a case of self-defense and accident.
DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman said he would not make a ruling on the motion until he was ready. He said he wanted more time to review both parties’ arguments.
The defense team called Wiggins’ ex-girlfriend to testify about the abusive relationship she had with the victim.
Wiggins’ ex-girlfriend said he would constantly beat her and trap her in rooms. He even choked her until she blacked out at one point, she said.
She said Wiggins would collect all the knives and screwdrivers in their home and hide them so that the ex-girlfriend could not defend herself. The actions the ex-girlfriend described were similar to Baker says Wiggins did the day he was fatally stabbed.
Wiggins’ ex-girlfriend also had a restraining order against him in 2009. She said Wiggins would constantly reach out to her and show up to her job even after they had broken up.
The defense is scheduled to continue arguments after the holiday break on Dec. 2.
No other organization can keep you informed about local crime cases that impact you. Help us add to our coverage and expand our help in your communities. Donate today.
