DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park heard testimony from a behavioral specialist on June 12 affirming a stabbing defendant’s mental ability to stand trial.
Devonte Wright, 26, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed against a minor, cruelty to children, assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, and carrying a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from Wright’s involvement in the stabbing of a two-year-old on May 27, 2020, on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE.
During the hearing, the prosecution reviwed the psychiatrist’s findings following five interviews and two evaluations with Wright in February and October of 2024, to determine if Wright his the capacity to unerstand his legal situation and work with his attorney.
The psychiatrist testified that Wright was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, pathologically altering his mood and perception of reality. In addition he suffers from speech delays and reduced emotional expression. Still these issues do not impair his ability to understand legal proceedings or consult with his attorney. She also found no substantial cognitive impairments, intellectual disabilities, or psychiatric symptoms that would render him incompetent.
In her February evaluation, Wright showed signs of limited effort, but displayed higher-level cognitive functioning during non-traditional tasks, such as teaching the evaluator how to play chess—a task she said demonstrated memory, reasoning, and attention skills. His presentation varied, appearing withdrawn in interviews but more animated and articulate when engaged in topics of interest.
The psychiatrist also evaluated claims of a traumatic brain injury Wright allegedly sustained around the time of the offense. After reviewing medical records, imaging, and emergency response documentation, she concluded that the injury was mild at most, and there was no evidence it continued to affect his competence five years later. Notably, Wright was recorded with a low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale, a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate consciousness after a head injury, at the scene.
While Wright expressed a desire to be found incompetent and return home, the psychiatrist stated there was no evidence of malingering, but rather waxing and waning effort. She emphasized that Wright had the ability to engage meaningfully with his attorney when motivated and was therefore competent to proceed.
At the conclusion of her testimony, the psychiatrist reiterated her final determination that Wright is competent to stand trial.
The court is scheduled to reconvene for cross-examination of the expert witness and future defense presentations June 13.
