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By
Ella Munnelly
- October 30, 2024
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein denied a defendant’s request to be transferred back to St. Elizabeths Hospital during a hearing on Oct. 29.
Asmerom Ghebrekidan, 53, is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the death of 41-year-old Fitsum Mamo and the assault of another individual on May 25, 2023 at the 1900 block of 14th Street, SE.
According to court documents, Ghebrekidan allegedly stabbed Mamo in the head and arm with a pickaxe and hit another individual with the handle of the pickaxe before witnesses were able to restrain him in an alleyway. Mamo succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Ghebrekidan speaks Tigrinya, which is a language spoken in Ethiopia, and does not understand any English. Ghebrekidan’s defense attorney, Jason Tulley, explained that it is disorienting for Ghebrekidan to be locked up at the DC Jail because he does not understand what is going on and the guards cannot communicate with him.
“This exasperates the torture that Mr. Ghebrekidan has suffered at the DC Jail so far,” said Tulley.
Tulley noted that Ghebrekidan did not experience this same communication issue when he was held at St. Elizabeths, and requested that he be sent back there.
A representative from the Department of Corrections (DOC) said he instructed operations and language access staff to speak with the defendant and he is currently being held in the mental health unit. He also added that the phone line available at the jail for language translators is the same as available at St. Elizabeths, so there is no difference in capability to communicate.
Judge Epstein denied the defense’s request for transfer, stating that he is still receiving mental health services and medication at the jail and he has the ability to work with lawyers and understand legal issues.
The case was continued to allow the court to speak with the doctor from Saint Elizabeths Hospital about the defendant’s competency, and decide how the case will move forward.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Nov. 26.