Carjacking Defendant Found Competent to Stand Trial

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DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian found a carjacking defendant competent to stand trial, citing a report he received from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), at a hearing on July 23.

Eligah Hughes, 34, and his co-defendant, Elias Robertson, 29, are charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and unarmed carjacking for their alleged involvement in a carjacking, which occurred on Feb. 25, on the 1000 block of F Street, NE.

According to court documents, an individual identified as Robertson approached the victim and told her he wanted her keys and had a knife. The police allegedly found the keys to the victim’s stolen vehicle in Hughes’ possession,

The presence of both co-defendants was waived at the hearing. Robertson was not brought from the jail to the courthouse due to an undisclosed medical issue, and Anthony Smith, Hughes’ defense attorney, stated that it was not necessary for Hughes to be there, despite the report Hughes is mentally competent to stand trial.

The parties are scheduled to return to court on July 31.