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By
Adriana Marroquin
- December 9, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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stabbing
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Suspects
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DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe denied a stabbing defendant’s request to delay his trial during a hearing on Dec. 9.
Dishon Washington, 49, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, and possession of a prohibited weapon. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a stabbing that injured an individual on Dec. 8, 2019 on the 4400 block of Gault Place, NE.
According to court documents, the victim was located with an apparent stab wound to the chest, and Washington was arrested at the scene of the crime in possession of a bloody knife.
On Dec. 6, Varsha Govindaraju, Washington’s attorney, filed a motion to continue the trial, which is slated to begin on Jan. 31, citing that the prosecution had provided “late expert notice and incomplete discovery related to a DNA expert.”
According to Govindaraju, there were inconsistencies in the report, which will be referenced by the expert in testimony. Meanwhile, the defense requested time to seek its own expert in response.
The prosecution objected, stating that the defense knew of the report and had waived their right to independently test DNA evidence, but now want an expert to review the prosecution’s findings a month before trial is slated to begin.
The prosecutor requested Judge O’Keefe deny what they deemed the “third or fourth motion to continue without a good cause” filed by the defense.
“At this point, this case is five years old. We are not continuing this case,” Judge O’Keefe told the parties, adding that it is very clear that Washington’s DNA was on the knife.
“I’m denying your motion. You better get ready for trial,” Judge O’Keefe told Govindaraju. She requested to give further representations through an ex parte discussion, which were unsuccessful.
Trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 31.
Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 3 for a trial readiness hearing.