‘I Had Never Felt So Panicked in My Life,’ Stabbing Defendant Testifies 

By Ella Munnelly , Alex Garcia Pecina - September 24, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

A stabbing suspect took the stand as the defense’s first witness in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno on Sept. 23. 

Amadelia Hernandez, 34, is charged with assault with a deadly weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing incident that occurred on March 29 on the 400 block of Emerson Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries during the incident. 

Hernandez testified that the day before the stabbing, on March 28,  she called the police after the victim allegedly waved a knife at her stomach. She stated that she had previously called the police two other times, but at no point was the victim ever arrested. 

On the day of the stabbing, she was walking by the victim when he slapped her and allegedly hit her with a bottle. Later that night, she said she was in her boyfriend’s room, who was also a tenant at the residence on the 400 block of Emerson Street, NW. The victim began kicking on the door, and when she opened it she said he swung a knife towards her. 

“I just reacted to defend myself because he was going to kill me,” Hernandez told the jury. “I just tried to defend myself because he was going to kill me. I had never felt so panicked in my life, my body began to tremble, I didn’t know what to do, my mind was blank, I just reacted.”

The victim was present in court for cross examination from Damon Catacalos, Hernandez’s attorney. 

During cross-examinationfrom Damon Catacalos, the defense asked the victim about his drinking problem, which the victim denied.  However, he agreed he had been drinking “in an increasing fashion”. Catacalos then asked the victim if it was true that he told doctors he went on a five-day drinking binge, to which the victim replied that it could be true, but he could not remember.

The defense also argued that the victim had repeatedly made Hernandez feel uncomfortable while they were both tenants in the same house. Hernandez said the victim had slapped her once, shoved her several times during encounters, and tried to get into her room late at night–all of which the victim denied.

On redirect, the prosecution asked the victim if he was ashamed about his drinking habits. He responded, “Nobody’s perfect, are you perfect?”

The prosecution also called two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers who responded to the scene of the crime. Both officers identified physical evidence, including a knife, a shirt, and a jacket, all of which contained the victim’s blood. 

The prosecution called the owner of the residence, where the stabbing took place, who was also present at the scene of the crime. 

He had previously told the police that he saw Hernandez allegedly stab the victim, but now testified that he could not recall making that statement and did not actually see the incident.

Under cross examination, the witness said the victim has a drinking problem although he could not say exactly how many drinks the victim would consume on an average day. 

Catacalos argued that the victim’s testimony was “incoherent, contradictory and nonsensical,” claiming that the victim was possibly intoxicated in court. The victim repeatedly responded “I don’t know”, “I can’t remember” and “that could be true” to Catacalos’s questioning. 

Considering the prosecution’s case relies on the victim’s testimony, Catacalos filed a motion for acquittal.

Judge Salerno denied the motion, saying the victim was stabbed by someone and DNA evidence strongly suggests Hernandez’s hand is at the end of the knife. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sep. 24.