Judge Continues Sentencing, Per Defense’s Request

By D.C. Witness Staff - April 26, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A DC Superior Court judge continued a murder defendant’s sentencing after his attorney notified the court April 26, the original sentencing date, that he was “not prepared.”

In February, Policarpo Casarrubias-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for fatally stabbing his roommate, 37-year-old Israel Gomez, on the 3100 Block of 16th Street, NW on Sept. 9, 2018.

Casarrubias-Rodriguez, 45, is now scheduled to be sentenced on May 31.

During the hearing, defense attorney Matthew Davies supplemented his assertion saying, he’s been in trial as a result needs more time in order to be prepared to go forward with sentencing.

The prosecution had no objection but noted that some of Gomez’s relatives traveled a long distance to be present for the sentencing.

According to court documents, prior to the stabbing, Casarrubias-Rodriguez and Gomez got into a physical altercation stemming from a dispute over a chair. After the fight was over, Casarrubias-Rodriguez got a knife and stabbed Gomez once in the back.

D.C. Witness previously reported that a judge said the defendant confessed to the crime after he was arrested.