Victim Had History of Abusing Transgender Women, Defense Says

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A defense counsel told the jury that a victim has a long history of physically and mentally abusing transgender women. Sean M Baker, 40, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly stabbing 35-year-old Robert L. Wiggins on the 300 block of 37th Street, SE. Baker is a transgender woman. During a jury trial on Nov. 18, defense attorney John Fowler told the jury that Wiggins had a history of gathering sharp objects that could be used for protection, and then beating and abusing transgender women within the household. Fowler showed the jury a picture taken in early 2016 of Baker beaten and bruised, which Wiggins had done, he said. Fowler said Wiggins was attacking Baker and that she made a split second to grab one of the knives Wiggins had collected and stabbed him while he was on top of her. The defense said she did it out of fear for her own life. “Mrs. Baker had grown up in foster homes and was taught not to trust police,” said Fowler, explaining why Baker lied about Peanut. However, the prosecution said Baker stabbed Wiggins intentionally after she discovered that he was cheating on her. The prosecutor said Baker made up a fake assailant named “Peanut,” who she claimed came in and stabbed Wiggins. Only after Baker thought Wiggins was alive did she changed her story to say the two were wrestling over a knife after he had been abusing her, said the prosecution during opening arguments. According to the prosecution, Baker said she accidentally stabbed Wiggins. In addition to the opening arguments, the prosecution showed video footage of Baker being interviewed at the police station by the detective. DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman told the court there was four hours of footage to go over and they would reconvene the following day. The jury trial is set to continue on Nov. 19.

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