Defense Requests Privileged Information Be Suppressed

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During a motions hearing Nov. 5, the defense requested that statements made by a murder defendant to her previous attorney be suppressed.

Sean Baker, 40, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 35-year-old Robert Wiggins on the 300 block of 37th St., SE on Jan. 31, 2016.. Baker was initially charged with assault with intent to kill.

The prosecution told DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman that they intend to use statements made by Baker to her former attorney, Janet Mitchell. Mitchell represented Baker from Feb. 2016 to Oct. 2016.

The precise content and relevance of the statements were not discussed in open court, but Baker apparently told Mitchell the location of a knife at the crime scene, which Mitchell then relayed to the prosecution.

Baker’s current attorneys, John Fowler and Dominique Winters, requested that the statement be suppressed since Baker never waived attorney client privilege.

Since Mitchell, Fowler and Winters all work for the Public Defender Service, and are therefore co-workers, a criminal justice attorney represented Baker in order to argue in court for suppression.

The prosecution requested another day to consult with supervisors about how to proceed with the case. Judge Edelman granted the request.

The jury trial, which was scheduled to begin today, was continued to Nov. 6.

Baker is also scheduled for a status hearing on Nov. 6.

Paul Mulholland wrote this article.

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