Attorney for Murder Defendant Wins Delay for Preliminary Hearing

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DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun granted the request of Oliver Gomes‘ attorney, Sara Kopecki, to reschedule his preliminary hearing from Aug. 23 to Oct. 8, giving her time to prepare a response to the prosecution’s evidence.

Gomes, 54, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal beating of 61-year-old Thomas Gray on Oct. 14, 2022, at the intersection of L Street and 11th Street, SE.

An autopsy determined the assault caused Gray’s death on Nov. 3, 2022, according to court documents.

Court records state that Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Gray unconscious on the sidewalk. A witness told them an assailant struck Gray with a plank of wood during an argument.

Gray identified Gomes as his attacker to MPD detectives during an interview on Oct. 19, 2022, at George Washington University Hospital, according to arrest documents.

At the hearing, Kopecki agreed that Gomes will allow the prosecution’s investigator to take a swab of his DNA at the preliminary hearing. Gomes has refused to allow the swab without his attorney present.

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 8.

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