A jury found a homicide defendant guilty on all counts that stemmed from a fatal vehicle crash before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on May 6.
Spiro Stafilatos, 35, is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault knowingly grave risk while armed, and fleeing a law enforcement officer for his involvement in a vehicle crash on Dec. 30, 2022 at the intersection of 14th Street and New York Avenue, NW that resulted in the death of 31-year-old Shuyu (Sophie) Sui, and critically injured another pedestrian, Sui’s wife.
After less than two days of deliberations, the jury found Stafilatos guilty of all three charges.
In the trial that started on April 28, prosecutors argued that Stafilatos consciously disregarded public safety by speeding through the intersection despite cross traffic and multiple red lights, causing Sui’s death.
Stafilatos’ attorney, Brian McDaniel, argued that the incident unfolded in three seconds, and that Stafilatos–whose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was confirmed by psychologists from both side–did not intend to harm anyone and believed he could drive through the gap in traffic without injuring anyone.
The prosecution also argued that Stafilatos’ vehicle acted as a dangerous weapon through its misuse, and that the injuries sustained by the survivor would have proved fatal without surgery, satisfied the threshold for serious bodily injury.
McDaniel argued that Stafilatos had no control over his vehicle after it was clipped by another car, causing his vehicle to spin into the victims.
The prosecutors argued that law enforcement signals were clear, and that Stafilatos voluntarily and recklessly sped away, with inevitable consequences.
McDaniel argued that Stafilatos fled because his PTSD caused him to genuinely believe the officers were about to shoot him.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 25 for sentencing.
