Prosecutors Suggest Love Triangle Led to Fatal Stabbing

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DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan found probable cause to try a defendant accused of a fatal stabbing motivated by a possible love triangle during a July 31 hearing.

Vanessa Bonaparte, 32, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for the death of 31-year-old Dwayne Boyd that occurred on June 22 on the 3500 block of East Capitol Street, SE.

According to court documents, an individual, identified as Bonaparte, broke through the windows of a vacant apartment where she kept her possessions. Boyd and his significant other were in the apartment at the time.

According to court documents, Bonaparte claimed the apartment was hers and that the pair had to leave even though they were squatting in a vacant unit.

“There is no evidence before this court that this was the defendant’s house at any time,” the prosecution said.

As the incident progressed, Boyd, according to his girlfriend who witnessed the struggle, saw Bonaparte climb through the window in another bedroom, run into the kitchen where the two got into a physical altercation and Bonaparte’s yelling to Boyd to get his hands off her.

It was then that Bonaparte allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times and the witness could hear him yelling that she is a “crazy b—–”. He then ran back to the bedroom where he died on scene and was found lying in a pool of blood.

Bonaparte’s defense counsel Kevann Gardner argued that the victim’s scratches on his neck were proof she was acting in self-defense.

The following day, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer who investigated the case, Bonaparte turned herself in after telling someone that she “did something bad.”

The prosecution pointed out Bonaparte allegedly fled the scene and tried to hide the murder weapons. Two knives were missing from a set in the apartment.

Meanwhile, Gardner focused on Boyd’s “out of control” behavior which the witness said was “aggressive” and that he was drug intoxicated. Gardner also brought up allegations of Boyd’s history of domestic disputes with women, including the witness whom he reportedly kicked and choked to the point that she asked police intervene.

“That’s the life the decedent was living,” Gardner said as he argued that the victim’s previous stalking and assault history “shed light” on who was the initial aggressor.

Gardner found it “laughable” that the prosecution doesn’t know why the incident happened. He disputed that claim the people were involved in a love triangle and that Bonaparte was reacting violently because she had a broken heart.

Gardner told the court that the defendant was never in a romantic relationship with the victim.

Further it was noted that the witness changed her account of the incident multiple times in interviews with police.

In finding probable cause, Judge Raffinan ordered a drug assessment and GPS monitoring for Bonaparte. The prosecution said they will be in contact with the witness to see if she feels a stay away order is necessary.

Parties are slated to meet back on Sept. 10.