DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe delayed a stabbing defendant’s trial for a day because there weren’t enough jurors available for the proceeding on Sept. 11.
Tanade Warsame, 32, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury and contempt for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on May 4, on the 600 block of I Street, NW. One individual sustained injuries to his chest.
According to court documents, the stabbing was related to the victim’s owing Warsame $10, after buying a hat earlier that day. During the dispute Warsame demanded money back from the victim. After the victim claimed he didn’t have the money, he walked into an alleyway with his hands up as if ready for a fight. At that point, the defendant allegedly stabbed him in the chest.
Parties were slated to pick a jury today, but Judge Pipe, who is standing in for DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz, stated there were not enough jurors in the court’s jury pool to begin the selection.
Additionally, there was an outstanding warrant issued for a witness who failed to appear to testify. US Marshals had to locate him twice, according to Judge Pipe, and put a GPS tracker on him Aug. 23.
Judge Pipe told the parties the witness will remain on release and is expected to appear to testify when trial occurs, or Marshals will arrest him.
All parties will reconvene for jury selection on Sep. 12.
