Defendant Found Incompetent to Stand Trial in Homicide Case

By Hunter Fernandez [former] - March 30, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During a mental observation hearing on March 30, a defendant in a homicide case was found incompetent to stand trial and required to undergo further evaluation

Wonell Jones Jr. is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Audora Williams after a dispute about infidelity. On July 19, 2022, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a shooting on the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE, where they found Williams, 33, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to court documents, Jones, 35, has a history of domestic violence and made numerous threats to Williams before she was killed. 

At the hearing on Thursday, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan stated that the DC Department of Behavioral Health had found Jones mentally incompetent to stand trial in this case. However, he said he would require further evaluation from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. 

The prosecution and defense had no objections to the court’s recommendations. 

The defense, however, requested that Jones be released on home confinement in light of his mental incompetence. Judge Raffinan rejected this request.

The next hearing is slated for May 10.