Victim, Defendant Offer Conflicting Stories in Stabbing Trial

By Jenna Lee , Yessica Osorio - October 25, 2024
Daily Stories | stabbing | Suspects | Uncategorized |

A stabbing defendant and her victim gave contrasting accounts of the crime in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow on Oct. 24.

Charlotte Norris, 40, is charged with second-degree burglary and assault with a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 2100 block of 1st Street, SW on Aug. 18, 2023. One person sustained injuries.

In their opening statement, the prosecution stated that Norris stabbed the victim after a hangout in Norris’ apartment, along with a man who was the victim’s romantic interest.

Prosecutors said Norris went back to the victim’s apartment and was “erratic” asking where the man was. Prosecutors said Norris then took out a knife and stabbed the victim three times — which the victim claims she never realized until the man in her apartment told her.

Claudine Harrison, Norris’ attorney, said in her opening statement that Norris was not upset when she went to the victim’s apartment and was just looking for cigarettes.

Harrison added that the victim was angry at Norris out of jealousy and initiated an altercation. As they fought, Norris grabbed a knife from the kitchen and allegedly stabbed the victim in self-defense. 

On the other hand, the victim testified that she was awakened by Norris banging on her apartment door and was confused as to what was going on. She said Norris “busted” into the apartment and couldn’t make out what she was saying. 

She said Norris pushed past her, so the victim grabbed her to try and get her out of the apartment. The victim testified she didn’t realize she was bleeding until after the attack.

When shown a picture of the knife from the crime scene, the victim said it did not come from her apartment and Norris must have brought it with her. The victim testified that she did not have any weapons on her at the time of the altercation.

Harrison also called on Norris as a witness. According to the defendant, on the night before the incident, Norris was hanging out with the victim, Norris’ ex-girlfriend, and a male individual. 

Norris said that once everyone had left, she realized that her cigarettes were missing, which made her believe someone took them by accident. When she went to the victim’s apartment and knocked, the victim opened the door and instantly began arguing with Norris’ getting punched, and dragged into the victim’s home. 

Norris claimed that she needed to get out of the victim’s hold, as she had her hands in Norris’ hair. She claimed she got something to hit her with but didn’t realize it was a knife. Once she saw blood, she left in a panic — not knowing if the victim had been injured.

A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer said an investigation uncovered a a pair of bloody pants allegedly belonging to Norris which she wore on the day of the incident.

Trial will resume on Oct. 25.