Judge Orders Homicide Defendant’s Transfer to St. Elizabeths Hospital

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On Feb. 2, D.C. Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein ordered a homicide defendant transferred from DC Jail to St. Elizabeths Hospital to see if he’s mentally fit to stand trial.

Javon Duckwilder, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Juwan Smith that occurred on Oct. 23, 2021, at a BP gas station on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

Jesse Winograd, Duckwilder’s defense attorney, presented a report from Duckwilder’s doctor who believes the best course of action is for Duckwilder to go through the competency restoration process at St. Elizabeths before being reassessed to stand trial.

Parties are slated to return Mar. 22.

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