DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman granted a defense’s motion to delay a murder trial despite prosecutors’ objections during a hearing on June 22.
Lamont Stephenson is charged with first-degree murder while armed and cruelty to animals for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of 40-year-old Natina Kiah and the killing of a cat on March 6, 2019, at the 5000 block of D Street, SE.
Stephenson’s attorney, Jonathan Lanyi, told Judge Edelman that he had been working with a behavioral specialist to testify in support of Stephenson’s insanity defense who has become unresponsive. According to Lanyi, co-counsel Sara Kopecki, who was absent, sent a private investigator to New Jersey to look into the matter.
To plead insanity a defendant must be incapable of understanding right from wrong and appreciate the criminality of their actions.
Lanyi requested to delay the trial originally scheduled to begin on Sept. 28. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that there is no basis for an insanity defense and noting that the prosecution completed its testing and provided evidence to the defense in June 2025.
Judge Edelman said he did “not see much of a choice” but to delay the trial, since the defense was not at fault for the unavailable witness and they are looking for a replacement witness.
Stephenson also waived his rights under the Innocence Protection Act (IPA), which allows defendants to do their own DNA testing. The prosecution allegedly obtained Stephenson’s fingerprints, which they plan to use as evidence in the trial.
The court scheduled a status hearing for Aug. 7 and rescheduled the jury trial for July 6, 2027.
