DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz vacated a trial date for a fatal arson defendant on May 1 after the defense expressed their intention to contest his mental competency.
Dayshawn Nolan, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in an arson that killed Antoinette Davis on July 3, 2022 on the 400 block of Condon Terrace, SE. Davis succumbed to her injuries on July 17, 2022.
To be competent to stand trial, Nolan must understand the charges against him and be able to assist his attorney in his defense. According to court records, Judge Kravitz found Nolan incompetent on May 16, 2025 and ordered inpatient restoration at Saint Elizabeths Hospital. Judge Kravitz subsequently found Nolan competent on Nov. 11, 2025.
At the hearing, Christen Philips, Nolan’s attorney, said the defense intends to contest the most recent report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) filed on April 30 that found Nolan competent. Philips anticipated the defense expert would complete their report by the end of the month.
As a result, the prosecutor expressed his belief that parties could not maintain the trial date of July 20.
Philips wants to resolve the competency matter and keep the trial date in place. Although, Philips said she understood if her request was impractical from a scheduling standpoint.
Judge Kravitz said it was unrealistic to think the competency dispute would be resolved before the scheduled trial since the defense expert would not have a report before the end of the month, and then the prosecutor would need time to respond.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 26 and Judge Kravitz vacated the July trial date.
