Parties debated logistics for flagging a murder defendant’s jail calls before DC Superior Court Judge Neil Kravitz on July 7 in preparation for trial.
Vanessa Bonaparte, 34, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, threatening to kidnap or injure a person, destruction of property $1000, and tampering with physical evidence. The counts stem from her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Dwayne Boyd, 31, on the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, SE on June 22, 2024.
Bonaparte’s attorneys, Roderick Thompson and Kevann Gardner, requested that prosecutors demonstrate which jail calls they would potentially admit into evidence.
While initially agreeing to the request, the prosecutor noted that they wouldn’t know which calls would be necessary until the defense’s opening statement.
“If they open on misidentification,” prosecutors said, “that’s very different than self-defense.”
The prosecution offered to flag calls after each trial day if needed, to which Thompson argued that the defense would be left with little room to prepare. He said the jail calls would act like “a joker in their back pocket” and that he has other preparation priorities.
The prosecution disagreed, arguing that both parties had access to these calls for an extended period. They said that the defense had plenty of time to sift through the calls, noting that it takes both parties just as long to listen to the calls for anything crucial.
More jail calls had been handed to the prosecution the morning of the hearing requiring review. The prosecution wants to wait until July 17 to notify Bonaparte’s attorney if they plan to admit any of the new calls.
Thompson argued that July 17 is “one business day before trial,” and requested an earlier date. Judge Kravitz agreed and gave prosecutors until July 14.
Prosecutors notified the court of their intent to bring six expert witnesses. They also addressed a witness who had claimed to previously identifying Bonaparte several times. The identifications were reportedly caught on Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) body-worn camera footage. Prosecutors offered to share the video with Judge Kravitz, saying they’d “make clips” and send them.
Parties are slated to reconvene on July 20.
