Last-Minute Revelation from Defendant Delays Domestic Stabbing Trial

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DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt postponed Devan Green‘s trial from July to October, based on information that Green recently revealed to his lawyer, in a hearing on July 12.

Green, 30, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, kidnapping while armed, kidnapping while armed against a minor, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and simple assault. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a domestic stabbing incident on Sept. 19, 2023, on the 500 block of 58th Street, NE.

At the July 12 hearing, Green’s defense attorney, Lee Smith, said the motion for continuance that he had filed with Judge Brandt two days earlier showed there was new evidence in the case.

“On July 2, during my meeting with Mr. Green, additional information was disclosed for the first time that I believe requires additional steps to be taken,” Smith said.

Smith shared the information with Judge Brandt in a private conversation.

“For now, based on the proffer, the court believes that Mr. Green has the right to investigate and put forward the kind of defense he believes is appropriate,” Judge Brandt said.

According to court documents, a witness called the DC Office of Unified Communications (OUC) five times on Sept. 19, saying that Green was holding his girlfriend hostage and that she had yelled that he had cut her with a knife. When police arrived, the victim was rushed to the hospital for surgery to treat her injuries.

The prosecution objected to delaying the trial, arguing that the information Green shared with Smith on July 2 was not new to Green and could have been shared earlier. They said the victim and her family want the trial to take place as soon as possible.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 10.