A stabbing defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld he was rejecting a plea offer on June 17 and will head to trial.
Edward Cowser, 46, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing at a gas station on May 8 on the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. The victim sustained a stab wound to his back and was transported to a hospital for treatment.
According to court documents, Cowser and the victim allegedly got into a verbal and later physical altercation after the victim reportedly refused to continue sharing a PCP-laced cigarette with him.
The agreement the prosecution offered would have required Cowser to plead guilty to both charges against him, and in return, prosecutors would recommend a sentence within the bottom third of the guidelines.
Cowser rejected the plea offer, telling Judge Hertzfeld, “I’m the victim here.”
Anthony Dimillo, Cowser’s attorney, told the judge that Cowser was unable to attend the last hearing on June 12 because he felt unwell and was unable to be transported to court.
Judge Hertzfeld set Cowser’s trial for Aug. 24.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Aug. 20.
