DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur denied a domestic stabbing defendant’s release on July 17 due to the nature of the crime and risk to the community posed by the suspect’s prior convictions.
Paula Washington, 44, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred during a domestic dispute on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE on June 10. The incident left one victim with injuries to his chest and left arm.
At Washington’s felony status conference, the prosecution recounted the events of the incident. They claimed that Washington yelled, “I’m going to send you to meet the Lord” to her former romantic partner before allegedly pulling his pocket knife off of his belt and slashing him across the chest. The prosecution also pointed out that the victim arrived at the hospital with a blood soaked shirt and told the court, “actually the [prosecution’s] evidence is strong.”
Additionally, the prosecution brought up Washington’s prior criminal history, which includes a 2001 attempted second-degree murder conviction.
Washington’s defense counsel, James Brockway, described the victim’s version of events as “drunk ramblings” that made up “the sum total” of the prosecution’s evidence. He claimed that the victim’s recollection of the incident was inconsistent, due to having a “blood alcohol [content] several times the legal limit hours after.”
Brockway also claimed that the victim described events differently several times, leading to officers at the scene saying, “We don’t know how she got the knife. We don’t know why she got the knife.”
In addition, Brockway argued that Washington’s medical needs were not met at the DC Jail. He said she had not received CT or MRI scans or medication for pain and high cholesterol. The defense shared that Washington’s family has been present in her hearings and emphasized her support system if she were released.
Brockway previously argued for Washington’s release before DC Superior Court Judge Dorsey Jones on June 22, but Brockway argued his ruling relied too heavily on the severity of the charges.
Judge Arthur denied Washington’s release, declining to “disturb the findings of Judge Jones.”
Although Washington’s attempted second-degree murder conviction was “dated,” Judge Arthur said he was concerned with granting pre-trial release to a defendant who had completed a 15-year sentence less than ten years ago.
Parties are slated to reconvene for a trial readiness hearing on Sept. 18.
