Mistrial Declared in Domestic Violence Case

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A domestic violence trial ended with a DC Superior Court judge declaring a mistrial.

The defendant, in this case, is charged with cruelty to children, threat to injure or kidnap a person and simple assault. Prosecutors accused him of attacking a woman outside a homeless shelter as she held their 18-day-old son in a car seat, injuring the baby in the process, D.C. Witness previously reported. Defense attorney Kevin Mosley argued his client was trying to protect their child from his mother.

Parties delivered their closing arguments on Tuesday, May 3 before Judge Rainey Brandt sent the jurors to begin deliberating. They continued their deliberations on May 4, but on May 9, Judge Brandt declared a mistrial due to illness, according to court documents.

D.C. Witness does not know the specifics of what illness caused the mistrial. There was a pause in the trial early on due to a defense attorney testing positive for COVID, but this is not confirmed to be the reasoning.

Parties are scheduled to meet in court for a status hearing on May 13 so prosecutors can have time to decide how they want to proceed with the case. In the meantime, the defendant will remain detained at DC Jail.