Victim Died from Pre-Existing Heart Condition, Defense Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 5, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During opening arguments in a murder trial, the prosecution said the defendant is responsible for beating a 41-year-old man to death. However, according to the defense, the defendant was provoked and the victim had a pre-existing heart condition.

Nathaniel Bryant is charged with voluntary and involuntary manslaughter for his alleged role in the death of Victor Drummings inside the Quality Inn parking garage on the 1600 block of New York Avenue, NE in 2015. 

Bryant “beat him until his heart gave out,” the prosecutor said. The prosecution acknowledged Drummings’ genetic heart condition, but said it wasn’t the cause of his death. Apparently, one of the arteries in Drummings’ heart had a 75 percent blockage.

The prosecution said Bryant “sucker punched” Drummings, causing him to fall flat on his face. The prosecutor said Drummings was “trapped, drunk and alone.” She said he tried to fight back but that he was “uncoordinated.” The prosecutor said Bryant repeatedly punched and kicked the victim even as he tried to crawl away.

According to the prosecution’s theory, Bryant and two other females were leaving from a Halloween party at the Quality Inn when Drummings drunkenly started “flirting” with the women. The prosecution said Bryant got “annoyed” but that the women appeared unbothered in surveillance footage, which captured the exchange.

“Drummings was never a threat,” the prosecutor said. “Maybe, except to Bryant’s fragile ego.”

However, the defense provided a different perspective. Defense attorney, Nathaniel Mensah, said Drummings, who was drunk and high at the time, threatened the defendant. “Bryant did what Drummings forced him to do,” Mensah said.

Mensah also said Drummings threw the first punch. He said that as soon as Drummings stopped fighting, the defendant stopped “defending himself.”

Mensah told the jury to pay attention to the medical examiner’s report, which allegedly shows Drummings didn’t have any broken bones or fractures. Instead, Mensah said the report shows the victim had minor injuries consistent with losings a fist fight. He also said the report details Drummings’ heart condition.

Drummings “could’ve died just sitting on the couch,” Mensah said.

According to Mensah, Drummings’ blood alcohol level was four times the legal driving limit. He also said Drummings was high on PCP and marijuana and that he took “some pill.”

Drummings’ wife testified that her husband was healthy, denying any knowledge of a pre-existing heart condition. But, she said he “struggled” with PCP, a hallucinatory drug. According to court documents, Drummings was on parole in connection to a drug related case and was reporting for drug tests and attending a court ordered support group.

The trial is scheduled to resume on March 6.