Judge Sentences Man to 11.5 Years for Nightclub Stabbing

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 11, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

A District of Columbia Superior Court judge sentenced a man Jan. 11 to 11.5 years in prison for stabbing a man to death in a downtown DC nightclub.

In October, Antoine Byrd pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for his role in the death of 29-year-old Robinson Pal at BarCode, a club located on the 1100 block of 17th Street, NW in 2016. According to the prosecution, Byrd, 38, and Pal had a history of run-ins.

Byrd received a 10 year sentence for his voluntary manslaughter charge and 1.5 years for the assault charge.

“I’ve been praying for him and your family and I will continue to,” Byrd told Pal’s family. 

Byrd said that on the night of the murder he didn’t leave his house with the intention to hurt anyone. He also told the family that they would not have a problem from him in the future.

Prior to delivering his sentence, D.C. Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe said he believed the defendant was remorseful for his actions. Judge Iscoe noted that if Byrd’s criminal history score was lower he may have lowered Byrd’s sentence for assault.

“No person is defined by the worst thing they do,” Judge Iscoe said.

Following Byrd’s release from prison, he will serve five years on supervised release.