Manslaughter Defendant Sentenced After Plea to 10 Years in ‘Nefarious’ Stabbing 

By Jeff Levine - December 13, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

Cynthia Battle, 54 was sentenced to 10 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on Dec. 12.  

Battle was originally charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of 59-year-old Raymond Johnson on Jan. 16 on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE in an argument fueled by drugs and alcohol. 

In September, Battle accepted a plea offer from the prosecution agreeing to the voluntary manslaughter charge.  

During emotional proceedings, the victim’s sister addressed the court from a wheelchair saying, “What we don’t have anymore is my brother.”  She said Johnson’s mother cried many tears because of her son’s death.  

“No one should get away with a heinous crime, “ said the sister.  She said Battle came to DC to buy crack cocaine.

Battle was arrested in North Carolina in March and extradited to the District. 

“She certainly is not getting away and she will be punished today,” said Judge O’Keefe.

The prosecutor argued for the maximum sentence saying that Battle had already benefited from the plea agreement which reduced the charge from second-degree murder carrying a maximum penalty of 24 years in jail.

The goal of the sentence, she said, is “to serve the ends of justice and act as a deterrent.”

Johnson’s death, said the prosecutor, has “enveloped the family in darkness.”

To bolster its case, the prosecutor showed surveillance camera footage that captured the crime scene. 

It shows an individual identified as Battle congregating with other people including Johnson under street lights around the intersection of 19th and Q Street, SE.  As the interaction progresses,  Battle walks across the street toward Johnson and strikes him with a “jab in the chest.” 

This was an intentional crime in that there was “no heat of passion,” said the prosecutor.

Battle’s attorney, Kevin Mosley, read a statement to the court on his client’s behalf in which she apologized to the family and said she was “extremely remorseful” for her actions.  Still, Battle acknowledged, there is no excuse for what happened.

However, Mosley says Battle felt disrespected and didn’t intend to kill Johnson, just “hurt him a little”—put him in his place.

She said her nine months in jail had strengthened her character and, “I’m not the person I was at the time of my arrest.”

Battle claimed during the incident she was suffering from bipolar disorder and experiencing severe psychosis.  Now however, she knows how to control the disease and will stay away from drugs.  

The prosecutor said the facts show otherwise in that Battle denied her illness and didn’t 

take medications to control her condition. 

In passing the 120 month sentence, the maximum allowed under the guidelines, Judge O’Keefe noted, “Stabbing someone in the chest is in the more nefarious range of conduct”

In addition to jail time Battle will have to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund and be on supervised parole for five years when she’s released.