Prosecutors Say Witness Lied to Cover Up a Homicide

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In spite of defense concerns that her testimony is unreliable, the prosecutor said,“It’s as clear as the elephant in the room” that a woman lied to protect her lover in a homicide case.

The issue was debated before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan in an April 24 pre-trial hearing for Robert Carpenter, 36. He’s charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior felony conviction within one year.

The counts are in relation to a shooting last May 7 that claimed the life of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson in an apartment on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) report, the victim died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. Initially, a woman at the residence told police she shot the victim during an argument over the whereabouts of their son.

However, she later reversed herself and claimed she lied about the incident in order to cover up for Carpenter, her current lover–and that she coached two witnesses to the shooting to do the same. During the hearing, questions were raised about the woman’s mental competency.

David Knight, Carpenter’s attorney, said the woman’s statements were “hearsay,” because the defense won’t be able to cross-examine the woman in court. She’s been charged with obstruction of justice, according to the prosecutor. However, he said, if she were mentally competent she would have been charged with murder.

Thus, said Knight, the case becomes a “mini-trial” about the woman’s changing narrative.

The prosecutor argued the woman’s statements to police were ultimately valid because they were self-incriminating. “Why the heck would someone admit to killing someone?” he asked. “If we excuse [the woman] we almost take away the very heart of this case.”

Judge Ryan warned the prosecution to “tread lightly” on the woman’s statements made in police custody because they’re “kind of a minefield.” Further, the judge chided the prosecutor for being dismissive of defense arguments.

“To ignore defense concerns is imprudent,” said the judge. The prosecutor apologized and said that was not his intent.

The trial is scheduled to begin on April 28.