A stabbing defendant said his actions were justified while disputing a plea deal for the third time before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on March 6.
Corey Bridges, 31, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, tampering with physical evidence, and threatening to kidnap or injure a person. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1400 block of Morse Street, NE on June 7, 2025, which left one victim injured with multiple lacerations to his neck.
The prosecution presented the terms of an agreement that would require Bridges to plead guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for the prosecution dismissing all other charges.
According to court records, Bridges started accepting this agreement on Jan. 2 and again on Feb. 6, but requested more clarity on the details of the agreement from his defense attorney, Molly Bunke.
At the hearing, Bridges said he was “satisfied to a degree” with Bunke’s work on the case so far, but was frustrated at how long it took to appear in court again. Judge Kravitz confirmed with Bridges that this situation did not affect his desire to enter the plea, and Bridges said he was “just ready to put forth the plea offer.”
The prosecution presented their factual basis for the plea agreement, saying they had evidence that would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bridges deliberately stabbed the victim in the neck and caused a serious, life-threatening injury with no legal justification for his actions.
When questioned by Judge Kravitz and Bunke about these facts, Bridges said that his actions were justified because he was “antagonized” by the victim, who he was living at a transitional home with the victim. Bridges said that due to this ongoing dispute, the stabbing was done “rightfully.”
Bunke suggested that Bridges might still be confused about the questions asked due to his not understanding some of the legal terminology, and requested additional time to speak with her client about how to move forward with the plea agreement. Judge Kravitz agreed and passed the case until a later time in the day, during which Bunke said she would waive Bridges’ appearance and request another hearing be scheduled to continue with this matter.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on March 11.
