DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro told parties on July 6 she’d consider a severance motion after a co-defendant’s attorney withdrew, causing delays in a carjacking case.
Lamar Stephens, 39, and Peguy Sikadi, 32, are charged with armed carjacking, 11 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, five counts of robbery while armed, five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction for their alleged involvement in the armed robbery and carjacking of five victims on May 26, at the 2000 block of 13th Street, NW.
Sikadi’s attorney, Sharon Weathers, argued that her client should be severed from Stephens due to the recent dismissal of his attorney, Susan Ellis, which delayed the proceedings. Weathers argued that this is forcing Sikadi to wait for Stephens to obtain a new lawyer, violating Sikadi’s constitutional rights to a speedy trial.
Weathers asked Judge Di Toro to consider modifying the release conditions or granting severance, which would separate the trials. Judge Di Toro noted that Stephens would need new representation for the case to move forward and apologized to Stephens for the delay in appointing a replacement attorney.
Judge Di Toro explained that she would take the motion into consideration but did not rule on the matter. The court expects to appoint Stephens a new attorney sometime this week.
The parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 24.
