‘Robert Carpenter Did What He Had To Do,’ Defense Argues in Homicide Closing

By Allyson Nelles [former] - May 6, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides |

A homicide trial wrapped up with its final witnesses and closing statements before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on May 5. 

Robert Carpenter, 46, is 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 conviction, for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 42-year-old Tremaine Nicholson. The incident occurred on the 3400 block of 25th Street, SE, on May 7, 2024. 

The defense called its final two witnesses, both of whom testified to experiencing previous violent behavior from Nicholson. 

“I saw him dragging her down the steps like a caveman… by the hair,” said one witness, who was a relative of Nicholson’s. “Every woman that he brought around, I witnessed things.” 

The other witness was a police officer who responded to a call in Virginia about Nicholson. After taking him to the regional jail, the witness testified that Nicholson bit his left forearm and kicked him in the shin. 

As their only witness in their rebuttal case, the prosecution called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer to explain the online records system that allows officers to look up reports. The witness testified that after searching names of the individuals and cross-referencing, no reports were filed in DC about any of Nicholson’s alleged violence against previous partners. 

“Outnumbered, unarmed, and shot in the back four times,” prosecutors said about Nicholson in their closing statement. “It is not self defense, it is not justified.” The prosecution walked back through the tangible evidence, witness testimony, the elements of each charge, and why self defense was not an appropriate defense for this murder. 

“Is trying to see your son a death sentence?” questioned the prosecution. They pointed to Nicholson’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) being 0.28, and reasoned that a severely intoxicated man could not have posed a threat for serious bodily harm. 

While acknowledging the elements of the lesser included charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed, the prosecution urged the jury to find Carpenter guilty of second-degree murder while armed. 

“You don’t put two bullets in someone’s head and call it self defense,” concluded the prosecution. 

“Robert Carpenter did what he had to do,” argued defense attorney Christen Phillips in her closing statement. “The people that brought you the evidence don’t want you to believe it.” 

Phillips emphasized the presumption of innocence, burden of proof, and standard of proof being beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury. 

“It’s the highest standard because the stakes are the highest – a man’s liberty.”

Phillips reiterated the statements of fear and panic from the eyewitness testimonies, especially the threat of violence that Nicholson posed to other men in the room shortly before he was shot. 

Phillips asked the jury to put themselves in the shoes of Carpenter, and think about what would be reasonable for him at that exact moment; seeing an erratic, abusive man lunge towards his girlfriend. “Hindsight is 20/20,” said Phillips, urging the jury to acquit Carpenter on the defense of self-defense and defense of others. 

The prosecution concluded with a final rebuttal, arguing they had met their burden of proof and disproved the defense of self defense. 

“He was a drunk man in his feels,” argued the prosecution, justifying Nicholson’s emotions about wanting to see his son. 

The prosecution pointed out that subjective witness testimony clashed with objective evidence, and mentioned the shakiness of some of the subjective testimony of multiple witnesses. 

“Mr. Nicholson would not be dead if there was not a gun in that room,” concluded the prosecution. 

Parties are scheduled to reconvene once the jury reaches a verdict.