A defense attorney in a homicide case will argue the defendant is not guilty by reason of insanity before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on March 27.
Lavaughn Barnes, 35, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the death and dismembering of Abdulio Arias-Lopez, 59, on Nov. 4, 2022, on the 1300 block of Kearney Street, NE.
Hannah Claudio, Barnes’ attorney, told prosecutors and Judge Kravitz that they would be filing a motion to ask for the court to find Barnes not guilty by reason of insanity. Claudio will call an expert to testify in support of the insanity defense..
For Judge Kravitz to grant Barnes an acquittal by reason of insanity, he must find that Barnes was unable to understand the wrongfulness of his actions or how they were against the law. Barnes would then be committed to a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
Prosecutors said they were unaware of these findings and they requested that Claudio share the name of the defense expert.
Judge Kravitz said he believes that motions in the case could “be very difficult.”
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 28.
