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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 1, 2016
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Yet again on Thursday, murder suspect Donald Hairston requested a transfer out of D.C.’s jail due to medical problems worsened by the high temperatures inside his cell.
Hairston, 49, is charged with first-degree murder in the June shooting death of 40-year-old Stephanie Goodloe. Hairston’s attorney, Mani Golzari, argued his client needs to be moved out of D.C. jails cell block because Hairston is easily dehydrated due to medication he takes to treat hypertension, and suffers from nerve damage, making it difficult for him to walk and cool off.
Golzari said the Department of Corrections tested the temperature in Hairston’s cell earlier that week in the early afternoon and the cell was 82 degrees. Glozari said the jail is not releasing information related to the heat index of the jail and individual cells, information Glozari argued is necessary for his experts to fully assess Hairston’s health.
Over the last week cell blocks in D.C. jail have been tested to be in the upper 70’s low 80’s and the individual cells are five to six degrees warmer on average as reported by NBC 4.
Hairston’s attorney asked if he could be given more medical attention or moved to a different part of the jail if a transfer was denied. Golzari said Hairston is treated daily for hypertension and cholesterol, but a key part of his medical history has been ignored by the DOC.
Due to nerve damage in his lower back, Hairston has difficulty walking and sometimes his legs will go numb for an extended period of time. One of Hairston’s legs is also swelled, causing him to enter court walking with a cane and without one shoe.
The DOC has allowed inmates more time out of their cell’s to cool down, but Hairston has so much difficulty moving, sometimes he can’t get out of bed and not being able to take part in the cool down activities, his attorney told the court. Golzari said part of the problem is the medication Hairston takes for his nerve damage has either not been provided since his time in DOC or has been given inconsistently.
Judge Florence Pan said she had no record of Hairston’s nerve damage because it was not on the medical forms provided to her by the DOC. When Pan asked Glozari what he feels she should do, he requested she write to DOC and request action to be taken.
The prosecution argued Pan should not interfere in the workings of the DOC because it would not be appropriate. Pan agreed, but said she will act for Hairston because his case is more specific and she felt something needed to be done.
Hairston is due in court again on Sept. 2 for a felony status conference.