Homicide Defendant interrupts Judge in Mental Competency Hearing

By Rebecca Connor [former] - June 6, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On June 6, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe ordered an additional mental competency exam for murder defendant Darryl Tompkins. 

Tompkins, also known as Daryl Thompson, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged roles in the deaths of Edward Roberts Jr. and Tyler McEachern. Roberts, 29, was fatally shot on the 3500 block of 14th Street, NW, on July 30, 2016. McEarchern, 23, was killed on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, on Aug. 29, 2016.

Judge O’Keefe granted the prosecution’s request for additional mental tests without objection from the defense. Tompkins’s last mental observation hearing occurred on Nov. 24, 2021, when the court declined to make an assessment.

The hearing before Judge O’Keefe began with only one of the defendant’s attorneys present, Pierce Suen. 

Then Tompkins appeared agitated that his other attorney, Dana D. Page, wasn’t in the courtroom and repeatedly asked the judge stop the hearing until she could be present. Page ultimately did appear.

Tompkins frequently interrupted Judge O’Keefe as well his own defense attorneys, until he was given time to speak freely at the end of the hearing. 

Tompkins stated the court was denying his consititutional rights, and that the judiciary system has become too powerful.

He then presented a loosely held together 65-page document, which Judge O’Keefe urged him to offer through his lawyers. However, Tompkins insisted on handing out the material, ultimately giving hard copies to both the prosecution and the court clerk. 

Parties are expected back in court Sept. 8 to discuss the results of the pending evaluation.