Judge Finds Probable Cause in Domestic Violence Case

By Will Lawrence [former] - July 8, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that a domestic violence case has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stealing money from the victim in her home after threatening her with a gun. He then allegedly pushed another female witness down the stairs before escaping through the back door.

During the July 8 hearing, Judge Sherry Trafford found probable cause, citing the physical evidence left at the scene. She did, however, say she was “left with some questions” about the details and sequence of the alleged events.

Defense attorney Kevin O’Sullivan noted inconsistencies between the two women’s accounts of the incident, as well as inconsistencies within the different accounts given by one of them.

O’Sullivan said these inconsistencies included details about the amount of money stolen and whether or not a neighbor saw the defendant enter the house with a gun. He also said both victims have a history of making false statements to the police.

The prosecution, however, argued that the two’s accounts differ because each of them witnessed different parts of the incident.

Judge Trafford agreed to release the defendant in this case; however, he is being held on other charges. When he picked up the domestic violence case, the defendant was on probation for assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm in a prior conviction. Shortly after his initial hearing in the domestic violence case, he was put on a probation revocation hold.

The defendant’s next hearing in his domestic violence case is scheduled for Sept. 14.