Domestic Violence Archives

‘I Tried to Get Us to Safety,’ Homicide Victim’s Best Friend Testifies in Trial

Details A homicide victim’s best friend, who witnessed the fatal shooting, and a medical examiner testified before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt’s courtroom on Jan. 15. Idrissa... Read More

Judge Allows Prosecutors to Use Defendant’s Police Statements in Trial

Details DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt denied a homicide defendant’s motion to suppress his statements to police in trial during a hearing on Jan. 10. Idrissa Fall, 37, is charged... Read More

Judge Finds Wheelchair-Bound Suspect Probably Murdered Former Lover

Details While the defense tried to portray 23-year-old Desmond Barr as a victim during a five-day preliminary hearing from Dec. 13 to Dec. 18, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe ruled... Read More

‘I Want to Prove That I’m Not This Monster.’ Says Stabbing Defendant at Sentencing

By Madelyn Nall [former] - December 3, 2024
Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Suspects |

Details During an emotional hearing, a defendant who pleaded guilty to stabbing her sister was sentenced to 36 months of incarceration, with half of it suspended, by DC Superior Court Judge... Read More

Domestic Stabbing Defendant Pleads Guilty to Felony Contempt

Details The prosecution dropped the charges of violent crime against Chackell Anderson in a domestic violence case, in exchange for Anderson’s pleading guilty to a felony charge of contempt before DC... Read More

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Domestic Dispute Stabbing

Details A defendant accepted a plea deal during a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on Nov. 20. Kaelin Johnson, 29, was originally charged with assault with intent... Read More

‘There’s a Reason Why We Appoint Attorneys,’ Says Judge to Stabbing Suspect

By Madelyn Nall [former] - November 19, 2024
Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Suspects |

Details A defendant asked to represent himself at trial in front of DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on Nov. 13 but she advised against it. Michael Alston is charged with... Read More

Tougher Stay Away Conditions Imposed on Domestic Shooting Suspect

Details DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow denied a shooting defendant’s request for release on Nov. 7, following multiple violations of a stay-away order. Aaron Carson, 23, is charged with assault... Read More

Prosecutors Question Stabbing Defendant’s Failure to Call Police

Details “You had to stab her to defend yourself … including those seven stab wounds on her back?” the prosecution asked during cross-examination of a stabbing defendant in a Nov. 7... Read More

Stabbing Defendant Had to ‘Make a Decision to Protect My Life’

By Phoebe McConnell [former] , Cameron Horne [former] - November 7, 2024
Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Victims |

Details A stabbing defendant claimed self-defense in a dispute with the victim, who suffered 21 stab wounds, in trial arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Nov. 6. Devan... Read More

‘He Tried to Make Me Stab Myself,’ Says Victim

By Cameron Horne [former] - November 5, 2024
Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Suspects |

Details The victim in a violent stabbing case testified that the defendant “tried to make me stab myself” in a Nov. 5 trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. Devan... Read More

Given ‘Degree of Depravity,’ Judge Sentences Murder Defendant to 50 Years

Details DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Marvin Lopez to 50 years in prison on Oct. 25 for fatally shooting his girlfriend nearly ten years ago Lopez, 43, was found... Read More