A defendant charged in a jail stabbing claimed he does not have enough access to jail resources before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on Sept. 5.
Ovid Gabriel, 20, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in an inmate stabbing inside the DC Jail, on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on March 28.
Rashid Shabazz, 35, is charged with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly hiding the shank used during the incident.
Shabazz was not present during the hearing.
According to court records, Gabriel decided to represent himself on July 8. Stand-by counsel Raymond Jones was appointed on July 10.
Gabriel claimed that he did not have adequate access to the jail’s law library, computers and a phone. He said that he is not able to properly represent himself because of restrictions put on him by the jail.
Judge McLean noted that these restrictions likely stem from safety concerns, as Gabriel is charged with several violent incidents allegedly involving fellow inmates and correctional officers. She said she does not want to get involved with the Department of Corrections (DOC) because of these concerns.
“I cannot govern what happens at the jail,” Judge McLean said.
Gabriel also motioned to reconsider probable cause in the case due to the jail’s alleged negligence and violations of his civil rights. Judge McLean said that civil rights violations need to be addressed in the jail rather than her courtroom. She denied Gabriel’s motion.
Gabriel also filed a motion to compel the disclosure of evidence. He argued that the prosecution had not sent him evidence directly, but through Jones, despite Gabriel representing himself. He asked for the victim’s medical records and a video of the incident.
The prosecution reluctantly agreed to send him the evidence.
Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 3.
