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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- June 16, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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stabbing
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Suspects
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Victims
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A homicide defendant’s lawyer requested June 16 that his client receive mental health treatment after witnessing the death of a fellow inmate.
Ronald Miller, 43, is accused of stabbing his former girlfriend, 28-year-old Tiffany Hardy, to death on Feb. 8, 2021. Hardy was found inside a residence on the 1600 block of E Street, NE with multiple stab wounds to her neck and body, according to court documents. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
The hearing, which began with a focus on scheduling, turned into a mental health hearing due to a recent suicide at the DC Jail. Defense attorney Jason Tulley said an inmate hung himself last week at DC Jail and Miller was in the next cell.
“To have to watch them bring him out and really try to resuscitate him and watch that young man die, like really die, felt like I was experiencing it,” Miller said during the hearing.
Tulley said the defendant, who died, had requested mental health assistance but was unable to receive it. He asked for Miller to receive it from the DC Jail and would file a medical alert.
“I think being alerted to instances like this is educational for all of us,” DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt said.
She said she could not force the jail to give him treatment but suggested Tulley talk to jail officials about the issue.
Another hearing is scheduled for July 7.