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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 3, 2016
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Manuel Ramos, the man charged with fatally stabbing his wife last June, appeared in court Thursday while the prosecution and his attorney discussed his mental competency.
Ramos, who suffered from a stroke after he allegedly fatally stabbed his common-law wife last June, has been charged with first-degree murder while armed.
The 70-year-old man has been housed at St. Elizabeth Hospital ever since the stroke, after his arrest for the death of Santos Lydia Ventura last June.
According to the warrant for Ramos’ arrest, Ventura was stabbed inside their home at 1425 T Street, NW. Three other people were stabbed, but survived. Ventura needed everyday care, family members told police, and was living in a hospital bed in the living room when she was stabbed.
Thursday’s hearing was mostly a dispute between both sides regarding the next step’s for Ramos’ case. Ramos has been tested 3-4 times by officials at St. Elizabeth’s hospital and has been deemed “unlikely [to] regain” competence.
Government lawyers argued to keep Ramos on some type of plan to restore his competency while he is still in the hospital, which was granted by the judge. There were also disputes on how to interview Ramos. The defense and prosecution plan to hold another hearing to discuss a plan to record and interview with Ramos to find out what he knows and remembers.