Judge Continues Mental Competency Hearing

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

On Dec. 2, a DC Superior Court judge granted a continuance for a contested mental competency hearing for a defendant in an assault case.

Devonte Wright , 21, is charged with assault with the intent to kill while armed for allegedly stabbing a child on May 27 on the 1700 block of Benning Road, SE.

Judge Neal Kravitz agreed to move the hearing to Feb. 18 to give both parties more time to share their respective mental competency reports. He also scheduled a status hearing for Feb. 8 to see where both parties are and if the case is ready to proceed.

Judge Kravitz set a deadline for Feb. 1 for an updated mental competency examination report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

The defense’s expert’s report on Wright’s examination is due on Feb 3. All supporting documents from the prosecution and defense are due on Feb. 5.

Wright is currently held at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital, where he has been since early July.

This article was written by Yasmeen McGettrick.