As part of a motion to dismiss charges, the defense for a homicide defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kraitz that his client was not receiving the proper medical care in jail on April 10.
Tiffany Taylor-Gray, 23, and Tommy Whack, 36, are charged with felony murder while armed, robbery while armed, and second-degree burglary for their alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Fasil Teklemariam, 53, on the 1300 block of Peabody Street, NW, on April 5, 2024.
Taylor-Gray is additionally charged with second-degree theft, two counts of first-degree theft, second-degree felony fraud, and first-degree identity theft.
At the hearing, US Marshals informed parties that Taylor-Gray was a medical scratch, when a defendant’s appearance is canceled or postponed due to a medical issue. Her attorney, Eduardo Balarezo, was present on her behalf.
Whack’s attorney, Kevin O’Sullivan, filed a motion on March 18 to dismiss Whack’s charges. In the motion, O’Sullivan argued that Whack will have been held pre-trial for over three years by the time of his scheduled trial in November 2027, which violates his Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.
Additionally, the motion included charges of medical mistreatment O’Sullivan claims Whack faces in the DC Jail. This includes an assault by jail employees and failure to receive treatment for mobility issues.
O’Sullivan also told Judge Kravitz that Whack was prescribed a walker but has not received it at the jail and has not received necessary physical therapy.
Judge Kravitz said he is unsure what he can do about the issue.
Parties in Whack’s case are slated to reconvene to address the motion to dismiss his charges on May 29.
All Parties are slated to reconvene on August 14.
