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.

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