DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt granted prosecutors’ motion to introduce a triple-homicide defendant’s medical records as evidence in her trial on March 19.
Nakita Walker, 46, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a March 15, 2023 car crash resulting in the deaths of Mohamed Kamara, 43, Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, 22, on Rock Creek Parkway.
Prosecutors filed a motion on Feb. 18 to introduce Walker’s medical records considered a business record during her trial.
When Walker was initially brought to the hospital, nurses diagnosed her with alcohol intoxication according to Albert Amissah, Walker’s attorney, in reference to medical records.
Amissah objected to the motion and asserted the nurse’s initial observations of Walker were influenced by police officers who notified them it was a “DUI Investigation.”
Prosecutors stated that after the nurses diagnosed Walker and the toxicology report was made, a doctor diagnosed her alcohol intoxication. Judge Brandt agreed with the prosecutors saying that, “this is clinical diagnosis 101.”
Judge Brandt partially granted the motion and will allow the prosecutors to present Walker’s medical records, but they will need to be redacted of her personal information, and only certain portions can be shown to the jury.
Judge Brandt also addressed the prosecutors’ motion to introduce out of court statements on video, that was filed on Aug. 5, 2024.
The videos are from a witness’ phone and police body-worn camera footage of the crash, both at different angles of the scene.
Amissah initially objected because he thought that the videos would be shown without the witnesses being there, but prosecutors cleared the confusion that the witnesses are expected to be present in court.
Parties agreed that the footage could be shown to the court, but the video on the phone of the witness needed to be redacted, due to a “prejudicial caption” according to Amissah. The specifics of the caption were not mentioned in court.
Judge Brandt granted the prosecutors motion to introduce the videos to the jury.
Parties are slated to reconvene on March 23 for jury selection.
