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By
Natalie Goodman [former]
, Delaney Don [former], Grace Guzzo [former] - August 29, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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During an Aug. 29 hearing, defense attorney Madalyn Harvey requested an individual mental health evaluation to determine the competency of a defendant charged with murder at St Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution.
Charles Lee, 28, was charged with first-degree murder on March 10 for the murder of David Dowdell on March 9.
Since the murder occurred at St. Elizabeths, Harvey said she hoped to avoid complicating the evaluation process with institutional bias from psychiatrists employed by the Department of Behavioral Health, citing lawsuits filed against the Department.
In order to give the prosecution time to respond, DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan continued the hearing, mandating that official motions be made in writing.
Metropolitan Police Department officers were called to 1100 block of Alabama Ave, SE for reports of an assault. Upon arrival, officers found Dowdell unconscious and not breathing, according to court documents.
The next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 21.