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By
Bersabel Ephrem [former]
- February 2, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Sex Abuse
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Sexual Assault
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Three days earlier than anticipated, a sex abuse trial concluded with closing arguments on Feb. 1.
The case, which had been unsolved for years, involved a 47-year-old defendant who is charged with first-degree burglary, kidnapping, assault with intent to commit first-degree sexual abuse with force, robbery, and two counts of first-degree sexual abuse while threatening the victim in connection to a sex assault on June 12, 2010, on the 1700 block of Lanier Place, NW.
The prosecutor told the jury that the defendant broke into the victims home in the early hours of June 12, 2010, forced himself on the victim and a struggle ensued. The victim was able to scratch the attackers face.
The DNA profile identified the defendant, said the prosecutor.
She said the victim’s phone was also stolen during the offense, which also led back to the defendant since there were several calls made to known associates of the defendant.
The prosecutor said DNA testing was conducted on Nov. 5, 2010, which resulted in the tests coming back that a mixture of DNA was found from under the victims fingernails. The contributor was both the victim and one male, in which the defendant could not be excluded.
“It’s important to know the difference between evidence and argument,” defense attorney Thomas Healy told the jury.
He argued that the investigation in this case wasn’t thorough.
The victims ear was not swabbed for DNA, the book that slipped and hit the suspects head, the picture frame that also was claimed to have been touched, the bed sheets, and the cell phone cord where the phone was charging at the time of the offense were never swabbed, he said.
“Because of their poor investigation, we are here today,” Healy continued.
The jury began deliberations on Feb. 2.