Almost three years ago, the night scene outside of a Northwest D.C. lounge near Howard University turned confrontational and left a father, of two girls, dead on the sidewalk.
In the early morning hours on Aug. 22, 2015, the defendant Milkiyas A. Bayisa, 27, allegedly punched Kassaahun Abebe Edo, 35, outside the Peace Lounge on the 700 block of Fairmont Street, NW. Both men are of Ethiopian descent and allegedly did not know each other or get into a confrontation while inside the club. Edo died on Aug. 23, 2015.
Police apprehended Bayisa after witnesses, who knew both men, showed authorities a photo of Bayisa and gave them his license plate information. Bayisa, who is a Maryland resident, is charged with second-degree murder. He is currently released under the High Intensity Supervision Program.
According to the prosecution, Bayisa’s actions were reckless and dismissive and he should be found guilty. Bayisa, who was identified by his nickname — Miki — apparently fled the scene after seeing Edo hit the ground.
“Who else wants some,” the prosecution quoted Bayisa yelling at the time of the incident.
However, the defense painted a slightly different picture.
Although the defense acknowledged that Bayisa threw the fatal punch. Defense attorney Steven Kiersh said the incident was not out of malice but an unfortunate accident.
Kiersh said Edo tragically fell down the wrong way, but the death was not intentional. Edo apparently fractured his skull when he hit the ground. He also suffered from internal bleeding.
On the first day of arguments, the prosecution’s first witness was the decadent’s wife, who lives in Texas.
The wife, who spoke to the jury through an interpreter, said her husband was in D.C. for a friend’s wedding. With tears in her eyes, the wife recounted her last conversation with Edo.
Throughout the first day of arguments, the prosecution recounted the incident, which was also seen on surveillance videos, showing a man lunging at the decedent and his friends in a fit.
Police documents note Bayisa punched Edo while his hands were in his pockets.
The owner of the nightclub, who watched the incident unfold from camera monitors in his office, told the jury that friends of the decedent moved the body a few feet down the sidewalk.
An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department, who was the first to arrive on the scene, corroborated that Edo’s friends moved his body in an effort to get him medical care. He also said, at first, the scene seemed as if the incident was only a simple assault until he went to the hospital and learned that doctors classified Edo’s condition as critical.
Arguments are expected to continue until May 9.
Caption: Kassahun Edo was fatally assaulted on Aug. 22, 2015. He died the next day. Credit: Addisnews.net
