Questions Over Murder Defendant’s Mental State, Understanding Delay Trial

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

A longstanding murder case has been confounded by a defendant’s wavering mental state and a language barrier. “I very much want to move this case forward,” said DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman, frustrated by the delays in a hearing on March 14.

Asmerom Ghebrekidan, 53, is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in the death of 41-year-old Fitsum Mamo and the assault of another individual on May 25, 2023 on the 1900 block of 14th Street, SE.

According to court documents, Ghebrekidan allegedly stabbed Mamo in the head and arm with a pickaxe and hit another individual with the handle of the pickaxe before witnesses were able to restrain him in an alleyway. Mamo succumbed to his injuries two days later.

During the hearing, Ghebrekidan’s stand-in attorney, Laura Rose, a mental health specialist with the Public Defender Service, said she’s renewing a motion challenging a finding by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) last October that her client’s competency has been restored after previously being declared mentally incompetent to stand trial.

She said that Ghebrekidan wants to be declared competent but, “doesn’t know if he fully understands that.” She said for the past nine months her client has struggled with feelings of paranoia about permitting an evaluation that would lead to a definitive finding about his mental state.

“We need to get past this point,” said Judge Edelman questioning whether the process will move forward. Presuming Ghebrekidan cooperates, the judge will confer with the DBH evaluators to determine the best course. In order to stand trial, a defendant must be competent to understand the charges against him and assist in his defense.

“I think we’re there,” said Rose. She noted the “weird status” of the case has complicated a resolution.

Ghebrekidan participated in the hearing with the aid of an interpreter, since he speaks Tigrinya, a language indigenous to Northern Ethiopia. At times, he interrupted the proceeding in an effort to speak directly to Judge Edelman who discouraged him from commenting pretrial.

The judge set a mental observation hearing for April 18.