Jury Finds Wife Guilty of Shooting Husband

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 28, 2019
Court | Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

Exactly six years after shooting her husband, a defendant was found guilty of killing her spouse during a violent argument. 

Dianna Lalchan

On March 28, a jury found Dianna Lalchan guilty of voluntary manslaughter while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for shooting her 36-year-old husband, Christopher

Christopher Lalchan

Lalchan, on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW on March 28, 2013. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 14. She is being without bail.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution refuted the defense’s theory that Dianna, 33, acted in self-defense because Christopher was shot in the back of the head. During closing arguments, the prosecutor said the gunshot wound is consistent with Christopher being shot while he was unarmed and face-down on the ground.

An expert said that when the bullet hit the back of his head, Christopher was close to the wall and not more than 18 inches from the floor. The expert also told the jury that Dianna fired three times and that Christopher was killed by the second or third shot. Bloodstain analysis can determine that Christopher was killed after a bullet struck the floor near his head. However, the sequence of the three shots cannot be determined. 

Also, the prosecution said there was no evidence that suggested that Dianna was abused. Throughout the trial, multiple witnesses testified that they never saw bruises on Dianna and had no knowledge of any domestic abuse. However, a few witnesses said they were aware of violent arguing in the relationship.

The prosecution said Dianna committed premeditated murder for varying reasons, including being ashamed of the divorce, not wanting her family to find out that she was a lesbian and to avoid paying alimony. The prosecution said Dianna was a “manipulative and cold” person who was “setting up a ruse,” by using domestic violence to get out of her marriage and avoid paying alimony.

Emails from Dianna to her husband and friends showed that she meticulously tracked and questioned Christopher’s expenses.

“It was all about money,” the prosecutor said. “She shot him to solve all her problems.”

However, the defense told a different story.

According to the defense, the couple had violent arguments and were planning to separate. When she called 911, Dianna told police that she was a victim of domestic abuse. However, she said she didn’t report the abuse because she didn’t want to jeopardize her husband’s future.

During opening arguments, the defense described Christopher as the “Hulk,” saying he was unable to control or stop himself. He had apparently strangled Dianna to unconsciousness in the past. Dianna was “living in daily fear,” the defense said.

An instructor at Krav Maga, a DC martial arts school where Dianna took self-defense classes, said Dianna told him about the domestic abuse she was enduring. The instructor told the jury that he offered to help Dianna leave her home and relationship, but she refused because she was afraid Christopher would retaliate. 

According to court documents, police found guns, gun memorabilia, thousands of rounds of ammunition and a tactical vest in the home, all of which apparently belonged to Christopher. Police also said there were no signs of a struggle in the home and that Dianna didn’t have any physical injuries.

The defense counsel also challenged the prosecution’s theory that Dianna was only concerned with her own financial situation, saying she didn’t want to leave her husband until he was financially stable. Her counsel said that as a pharmacist who made a six-figure salary, Dianna was happy to support Christopher.

“She lost her best friend,” the defense said. “She didn’t shoot Christopher Lalchan, she shot the Hulk.”

Read more about the trial on D.C. Witness’s site.