Judge Denies Acquittal Motion For Stabbing Defendant

By Joseph Wolf , Cathy Ochoa - October 7, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld denied a motion of acquittal in a stabbing defendant’s trial on Oct 3.

Jose Garcia Fuentes, 43, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and simple assault, for his alleged role in a stabbing incident that transpired on April 24 on the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW. One person sustained lacerations to their hand and face.

According to court documents, an individual identified as Fuentes entered a restaurant and started an unprovoked fight with another patron. After the suspect kicked the patron, the complainant stepped in to defuse the situation. As events unfolded, the suspect produced a knife and allegedly slashed the victim’s face and hand. After a struggle, the suspect escaped.

During the hearing, Henry Escoto, Fuentes’ attorney, filed a motion for judgment of acquittal, arguing the prosecution failed to meet their burden of proof. 

Judge Hertzfeld sided with the prosecution, stating that a reasonable individual could find Fuestes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The prosecutor also called a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department(MPD) to the stand, who testified that he located the knife that was used in the attack.

The MPD detective stated that no DNA evidence was obtained from the knife, which was 18 inches in length. He said that the knife could have been anyone’s, and no evidence necessarily pointed to Fuentes.

After the prosecution rested, the defense called on Fuentes’ co-worker, who was present during the incident, but testified she didn’t watch or hear it happen because she was not nearby.

She added that, following the incident, Fuentes had black eyes and missed work for four days. 

During closing arguments, the prosecution insisted that the surveillance footage showed all the facts of the case. They argued that Fuentes acted with malicious intent, and urged the jury to convict him of both charges. 

However, Escoto argued that there is no evidence that the knife used was Fuentes’, and claimed that, because the incident occurred inside of a restaurant, the jury could infer that the knife was from the establishment. 

Escoto further argued Fuentes acted in self-defense, saying he thought his life was in danger and only pulled the knife after being shoved and beaten.

Parties are set to return when the jury renders a verdict.