Murder Defendant Pleads Not Guilty

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 7, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Uncategorized | Victims |

During a felony arraignment Feb 7, a murder defendant pleaded not guilty.

Barbara Sanders is charged with second-degree murder while armed with a knife for allegedly stabbing 59-year-old Thurman Knight on the 500 block of Montana Avenue, NE in March. According to court documents, Sanders, 53, and Knight resided together and were in a romantic relationship for nearly eight years.

After the clerk read Sanders her constitutional rights, her defense attorney Matthew Davies, pleaded not guilty on the defendant’s behalf. He continued with asserting her right to counsel and request for a speedy trial.

The prosecutor said she sent the defense a discovery letter with numerous pieces of evidence found on officers’ body worn cameras in relation to the incident. 

She said she also sent a consent motion along with an attached order in regards to the grand jury. 

Lastly, the prosecutor said DNA testing was completed, and she shared the results with the defense.

The prosecution has not extended any plea deals as of Feb. 7. 

A status hearing has been set for March 6.

This article was written by Naysha Carrasquillo.