DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean on July 8 reluctantly granted a stabbing defendant’s decision to represent himself
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 documents, Gabriel allegedly used a “shank,” a sharp piece of metal wrapped with gauze, to stab the victim multiple times. The incident was captured by a jail surveillance camera.
During the hearing, Gabriel said he believed his defense attorney, Anthony Dimillo, had provided ineffective counsel.
Judge McLean okayed Gabriel’s motion to represent himself despite a history of requesting new counsel. She ordered a standby attorney be appointed before trial.
Judge McLean afterwards discussed the potential of severing Shabazz and Gabriel’s cases due to Shabazz’s repeated failure to show up for hearings,
Parties are set to reconvene on July 10, 9:30 AM.
