Domestic Violence Expert Testifies in 2014 Homicide Trial

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On Nov. 8, the prosecution called a domestic violence expert to testify in a homicide trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Marvin Lopez, 43, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 27-year-old Evelyn Arroyo on Dec. 24, 2014, on the 3900 block of 14th street, NW.

According to the witness, domestic violence occurs when one partner harms the other using physical violence, aggression, or emotional and psychological abuse. She further explained that coercive control is used by a perpetrator to commit these acts of violence.

According to the witness, the tactics are “intimidation, isolation, manipulation, micro-regulation, degradation, deprivation, surveillance, and sexual coercion”. The witness further stated that most abusive relationships are continuous, characterized by an act of violence, followed by apologies and remorse.

The prosecution asked about victims being arrested as a result of striking back against their abusers. The witness said that in many cases, the victim will strike first if they believe they are in danger, and it is likely that the victim will be arrested.

Additionally, the prosecution questioned the expert regarding common myths about domestic violence. The witness explained that a common myth is that the abuse comes to an end if the victim were to leave the relationship. She said it is actually the opposite, and that in most cases, the abuse escalates as a result of the victim leaving the relationship.

During cross-examination, Marvin Lopez’s defense attorney, Justin Okezie, asked, “You’re not testifying about [Lopez] at all, right? You have never met him?”, to which the witness replied she has never met Lopez.

The witness then reemphasized that she has not reviewed any evidence in this case, and is testifying based on her overall knowledge of domestic violence. Okezie argued that the witness therefore could not state if Lopez had ever used any method of coercive control against Arroyo.

When asked if perpetrators of domestic violence can be females, the witness stated that there are women who commit violence against men, but that it is less likely.

“What about a woman pulling out a knife, unprovoked. Is this abuse?”, said Okezie, in reference to a previous incident between Lopez and Arroyo where Arroyo is alleged to have taken out a knife. The witness replied that she would need more facts about the case to make a determination, to which Okezie replied, “Is this justified because she’s a woman?”

The witness then reiterated that she would need more information to make any conclusions.

Okezie also questioned the credibility of domestic violence research, arguing that “You don’t have an actual scientific way to define it, do you?”, in reference to research on coercive control.

The witness replied she does have a scientific method, but said she would need more context and information about the specific case to make any determinations.

According to Okezie, what the witness was saying was “completely abstract”, and “there are so many things that people do in their daily lives that fall into controlling behavior”.

During redirect, the prosecution responded to the defense’s question about the hypothetical knife incident. The prosecution asked if one moment in time was enough to make a judgment of a relationship, to which the witness replied that it was not.

Parties are expected to reconvene Nov. 9.

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