Movement of Edo’s Body Did Not Cause Death, Expert Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 10, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

As a murder trial against a 27-year-old who fatally assaulted a father of two daughters persists, the prosecution and defense tackle whether movement of the decedent’s body resulted in his death.

On May 10, a neurosurgical resident explained the severity of the neurological affects Kassaahun Abebe Edo, 35, sustained after allegedly being punched in the head by Milkiyas Bayisa on the 700 block of Fairmont Avenue, NW outside the Peace Lounge on Aug. 22, 2015.

According to the expert witness, the fact that Edo’s friends moved his body to get him to medical care had no bearing on his death. The neurosurgeon, who is a resident at Medstar Washington Hospital Center, said when Edo arrived at the hospital his neurological function was consistent with the numerological function of a dead person.

According to the doctor, Edo’s brain stem, which controls basic bodily functions such as breathing and consciousness, was severely damaged.

“He was too injured … medically futile to proceed with any surgical intervention,” the witness said.

Edo’s wife removed him from life support on Aug. 23, 2015, after he was diagnosed as being brain dead.

As of May 10, jury instructions included sentencing charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.

On May 9, officers, emergency personnel and the victim’s friend corroborated counsels’ statements that there wasn’t previous tension or animosity between Bayisa and Edo before the incident that occurred during the early morning hours. Edo, who was a resident of Texas, was in Washington, D.C. for a friend’s wedding.

Surveillance footage shows Edo walking down the street with his hands in his pockets when Bayisa allegedly attacks him.

The prosecution has one more witness to present, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Edo’s body, on May 14. Even though defense attorney Steven Kiersh said he plans to present a case, the judge, jury and counsel expect to proceed to closing arguments on Monday as well.