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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- March 26, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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On March 26, defense counsel in a murder trial closed a case by saying a wife “lost her best friend” when she was forced to shoot her husband during a violent argument.
Dianna Lalchan
Dianna Lalchan is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting her 36-year-old husband, Christopher Lalchan, on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW in 2013. Dianna, 33, is claiming self-defense. She is currently released on personal recognizance.
Christopher Lalchan
The defense said that, on the night of the incident, Christopher punched a television and verbally threatened Dianna. According to Dianna’s testimony, Chistopher got overwhelmed with emotion and started to “come at her.” The defense said Dianna had no choice but to open fire.
“She didn’t want to,” the defense told the jury. “There was evidence that she was in serious danger.”
The defense also said that even though Christopher was unarmed, he didn’t need a gun to be considered a threat. According to Dianna’s testimony, Christopher strangled her to unconsciousness before. She was scared that he was going to kill her, the defense said.
Furthermore, the defense said Dianna, who at the time was being paid a six-figure salary, was happy to provide for her husband’s financial needs. Apparently, Dianna paid for Christopher’s immigration lawyer and an education program at American University. D.C. Witness previously reported that Christopher was unemployed for various portions of the four year marriage.
“One of the things she loved about Christopher Lalchan was that he had a mission,” the defense said. “She told her friends that she didn’t want to leave him until he was financially stable.”
However, the prosecution said Dianna did not act in self-defense.
The prosecution said the murder was premeditated, referencing expert testimony that said Christopher was unarmed and face-down on the floor when he was shot in the back of the head.
“In that particular moment she was not in danger,“ the prosecutor told the jury.
The prosecution said Dianna was a “manipulative and cold” person who was “setting up a ruse,” by using domestic violence to get out of her marriage and avoid paying alimony.
“It was all about money. She shot him to solve all her problems,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecution said Dianna was the one who held the power in the relationship, identifying the wife as the abusive partner who treated her husband like a “servant.”
The prosecutor also said Christopher wanted out, referencing emails between the couple. D.C. Witness previously reported that Christopher told Dianna’s parents that they were getting a divorce.
The jury began deliberations on March 26.