Judge Continues Hearing for DNA Testing

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 10, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge continued a homicide hearing to allow time for a DNA testing order to be submitted and executed.

Barbara Sanders is charged with second-degree murder while armed in the fatal stabbing of Thurman Knight. 

During the Feb. 9 proceedings, defense attorney Matthew Davies said the defense will be testing physical evidence in the case and will send the order over shortly.

Sanders, 55, is being held at a halfway house and undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital. A Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) representative said Sanders has been compliant in checking in daily, with the exception of one missed day.

The prosecution told the judge that Sanders should be under the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP) instead of general supervision.

However, Judge Neal Kravitz said Sanders is unable to be on HISP or wear a GPS bracelet for medical reasons. Even though Sanders is under general supervision, she was assigned a curfew as precaution.

On March 17, 2019, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to reports of a stabbing at 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE. Knight was found conscious lying in a yard with a stab wound to chest and was pronounced dead at nearby hospital.

The next hearing in this case is scheduled for April 12.