Wife Tells Self Defense Instructor About Abuse

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 22, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A self defense instructor, who taught classes to a murder defendant, said she told him about being in an abusive relationship with her husband shortly before his murder.

Dianna Lalchan

Dianna Lalchan is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting her 36-year-old husband,

Christopher Lalchan

ChristopherLalchan, on the 1200 block of 4th Street, SW in 2013. Dianna, 33, is claiming self defense and is currently released on personal recognizance.

During the trial, an instructor with Krav Maga, a martial arts school in DC, testified that Dianna attended his classes for three months. He said he pulled her aside one day in March of 2013 after she asked him “strange” questions about jumping out of a moving vehicle. He said Dianna told him that she was involved in an abusive relationship. According to the instructor, Dianna said her husband constantly threatened her with guns. 

During cross examination, the prosecution pointed out that people who take Krav Maga classes often sustain bruises and injuries. D.C. Witness previously reported that photos of Dianna, taken by police after the murder, showed bruising that the defendant said she could gave gotten from the class. The photos did not show Dianna with any other injuries, such as a black-eye. 

An investigator who specializes in 3D modeling also testified that he created a model of the murder scene and said he could not confirm where in the room Dianna was standing at the time she fired the gun. D.C. Witness previously reported that there were three gunshots, and though the exact order could not be verified, another expert said that, according to blood spatter, the floor was shot before Christopher was shot in the back of the head.

The trial is set to continue on March 25.