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By
Phoebe McConnell
- November 14, 2024
Daily Stories
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stabbing
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Victims
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Opening statements detailed extensive wounds sustained by the victim during a jury trial on Nov. 13 for non-fatal stabbing defendant Willie Byrd.
Byrd, 61, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal stabbing on the 400 block of 2nd Street, SW on Feb. 28, 2023.
During opening statements, the prosecution showed surveillance footage to the jury of the stabbing incident, taken from cameras outside the homeless shelter where Byrd resided. After a physical altercation between the victim and defendant and possibly others, the footage shows Byrd allegedly stabbing the victim in the chest.
The prosecution says Byrd was concealing the knife behind his back and waited for the victim to come close, using the full force of his body in the attack.
The victim sustained life-threatening injuries in several organs, requiring multiple operations and a stay in intensive care. Medical providers also had perform heart massage and deal with significant blood loss.
The victim has since passed away due to unrelated injuries.
Defense attorney, Stephen Logerfo, is asking the court to find Byrd not guilty, given his age, and that he was defending himself, not necessarily intending to kill or injure. Defense counsel argued that no knife was found.
The first witness called was a volunteer at the homeless shelter who said no weapons are allowed and he had never had a problem with Byrd.
An officer called to the scene said he stayed with the unconscious victim in the ambulance and on the way to the hospital. The witness testified that paramedics moved expeditiously as the victim was in a critical state and bleeding badly.
The witness said he found the defendant at George Washington University Hospital where he was lying on the bathroom floor, appearing to be incoherent, and paramedics were called to supply Narcan for an apparent overdose. The officer said Byrd’s clothing was not bloody and he didn’t find a knife.
During cross-examination the witness said he spoke with several individuals at the scene after the incident, none of whom stated Byrd was armed.
DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled a continuation of the trial for Nov 14 where the court is supposed to finish in terms of evidence.