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D.C. Witness Staff
- February 20, 2020
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During a trial readiness hearing on Feb. 19, a judge granted the defense a continuance, giving them time to find an expert witness.
Robert Wilson Dean Jr, 61, is charged with first-degree murder while armed with a screwdriver for allegdely stabbing Tamiya White, 38, on March 31, 2018, on the 1000 block of Mount Olivet Road., NE.
John Armstrong, one of Dean’s two defense attorneys, asked DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck for a continuance to ensure they had enough time to find an expert witness to testify on Dean’s behalf.
“The defense has been perfectly diligent in trying to produce an expert on short notice,” Judge Beck said.
The witness the defense has found is an expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). He will testify to whether or not Dean was fully competent at the time of the crime, and if his mental health had any effect on his behavior.
Jury selection is scheduled for Nov. 2 and trial is set to begin on Nov. 3. Both parties anticipate a two-week long trial.