Judge Grants Extension in Alleged Kidnapping and Hospital Escape Case

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A DC Superior Court judge gave defense counsel more time to obtain an independent forensic exam for a murder defendant who is facing new charges after allegedly escaping from St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

In 2017, Bernard Coleman, III pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for shooting his father, Bernard Coleman, Jr.,43, while he was sleeping on March 17, 2017.

During the March 26 hearing, defense attorney Dominique Winters said her client will not be sentenced until his 2020 kidnapping case has been “sorted out.”

According to court documents, while awaiting sentencing, the 27-year-old allegedly escaped from St. Elizabeth’s, DC’s psychiatric institution, on Oct. 3, 2020. Coleman and another suspect allegedly kidnapped and robbed a man, tasered him, stabbed his hands and left him handcuffed in a basement for three hours on the 400 block of Chaplin Street, SE on Oct. 7.

Coleman was apprehended that same day and now faces armed kidnapping charges.

He was found competent in his cases following a preliminary screening in December, which the defense disagreed with, and again after a full exam in February.

Defense attorneys Winters and Janai Reed had said they will conduct an independent forensic exam and present their findings during the March 26 hearing. However, Reed said they were unable to hire an expert to evaluate the defendant.

Reed asked for a 90-day extension to allow time for an independent expert to review items related to the case and evaluate the defendant.

Judge Ryan scheduled a mental observation hearing for the defense to present their independent forensic exam for May 28.

In the meantime, Coleman will remain at DC Jail.

McKenzie Beard wrote this article.

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