Judge Finds Probable Cause for Assault With Intent to Kill Case

By Caleigh Bartash [former] - March 19, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Domestic Violence | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge ruled that the case against a domestic violence defendant charged with assault with intent to kill while armed has enough evidence to go to trial.

The defendant is accused of stabbing his father inside the family home after an argument about money. During a March 17 preliminary hearing, Judge Robert Okun made a finding of probable cause.

“I don’t think it’s particularly close,” he said.

The prosecutor called a Metropolitan Police Department detective who assessed the crime scene to the witness stand. A certified Spanish interpreter, she interviewed several family members.

Witnesses told her the alleged altercation started when the victim refused to give the defendant money.

The detective said she thought the defendant took $40, though she was not sure. Still, she was confident that whatever sum the family members mentioned was found on the defendant when he was apprehended.

“It’s clear the defendant, in anger, decided to stab his father over $40,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor presented two pictures. The first showed cuts on the hand of a family member who was making breakfast when the alleged stabbing happened. She is partially blind but tried to stop the altercation, the detective said. One witness restrained the defendant and another called emergency services.

The second picture showed the victim’s injuries. The detective said her colleagues had to hold his intestines together.

“The picture was pretty gruesome,” Judge Okun said.

Defense attorney Julie Swaney argued that the circumstances of the incident may be “explored further” to consider factors such as self-defense and mental health. The detective testified earlier that family members had concerns about the defendant’s mental health.

The defendant was also charged in a misdemeanor domestic violence case about one month ago.

Swaney asked Judge Okun to consider allowing the defendant to move into temporary housing in the future. She had reached out to different places but has not found a space for him yet.

Judge Okun was not convinced. He ordered that the defendant remain held at DC Jail.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 19.