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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- July 12, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On July 12, defense counsel for a murder defendant disagreed with the prosecution about what evidence should be given to experts in the case.
Stefon Kirkpatrick is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing his girlfriend Julisa Brittney Washington on the 400 block of Chesapeake Street, SE in 2013. According to court documents, Kirkpatrick confessed to Washington’s murder at the crime scene. However, in 2014, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
During the status hearing, Kirkpatrick’s defense attorney, Arthur Argo, said he does not want certain sealed files given to doctors at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital. Argo previously told DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck that the government was trying to “flip” his experts.
Prosecutors said they were in favor of the doctors receiving all of the files.
Judge Beck said she would not make a finding on the matter until Argo’s co-counsel, Laura Rose, was present to make additional arguments.
The prosecution also told Judge Beck that there is a possibility the Nov. 5 trial date would need to be pushed back because there was a large amount of evidence for the experts to review. The defense agreed on the need for another date.
Judge Beck gave counsel until the next status hearing, which is scheduled for July 25, to speak with experts and establish a timeline.