‘You Took My Mother From Me and My Sisters,’ Victim’s Daughter Says at Sentencing

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On Jan. 12, a homicide defendant was sentenced to 13 years of incarceration by DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Christian Monge, 27, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 31-year-old Brittanie Clark on Aug. 31, 2021, on the 5000 block of First Street, NW.

According to court documents, the incident stemmed from an altercation between Clark and Monge’s girlfriend.

On Sept. 13, Monge accepted a deal to plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed, in exchange for dismissal of all other charges. Parties agreed to a sentence of 13 years incarceration and five years of supervised release.

During the sentencing, several members of Clark’s family delivered victim impact statements, highlighting the pain and suffering her loss has brought to their family. Many of them stated they wanted to know why Monge did it, with Clark’s aunt saying, “Why? It shouldn’t have gone that far,” referencing the altercation between Monge’s girlfriend, Monge, and Clark.

“You really hurt me,” she added, saying, “You took away the most important person in my life.”

Many of the family members also mentioned Clark’s three girls, who they say need their mom every day, and he took her from them by force. “What if someone did that s**t to your sister, your brother… karma is coming. It’s coming, just know that, you can laugh all you want,” said Clark’s sister, as Monge appeared to smirk during the proceeding.

In an emotional statement, Clark’s daughter, who witnessed the stabbing, said “You took my mother from me and my sisters…I’m hurt.”

“I don’t think he understands that what he did is wrong,” she insisted, adding that she thinks about it every day.

Following the statements, prosecutors stated Clark’s loss has left a hole in her family’s hearts, adding that one of the few reasons they agreed to the plea deal was to ensure Clark’s daughter and the other juvenile present at the time of the incident did not have to endure the trauma that comes from testifying in front of a jury.

Prosecutors said that Monge comes from an unstable family, and has inflicted the same pain on three young girls.

They argued that Monge, in recorded jail calls, tried to shift blame on his girlfriend saying, “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” The prosecutor insisted that the only reason he’s in the position he’s in is because of his actions in an “unnecessary act of violence.”

Anthony Matthews, Monge’s defense attorney, rested his arguments based on the sentencing memorandum, which is not public, but added that Monge has a young daughter who he wants to support, and she is his motivation moving forward.

Monge asserted his right to not make a statement before the court.

Judge Okun expressed his condolences to the family, adding that the “senseless crime” should not have ended the way it did, adding that it was “uncalled for, unprovoked, and unnecessary.”

“It’s a very concerning crime to me,” he stated, arguing it’s not Monge’s first time stabbing someone. He referenced Monge’s 2015 conviction for stabbing someone in Maryland, for which he now has to serve back-up time due to his conviction in Clark’s death, which occurred while he was released on probation in Maryland.

“Part of me thinks this is not enough time,” claimed Judge Okun, adding that he understands the prosecution’s reasoning for agreeing to the deal.

Prosecutors requested Monge serve the District’s sentence consecutively to the time he has to serve in Maryland, arguing that it’s reasonable due to it being two separate incidents with different victims.

The request was granted, and Judge Okun ordered Monge to participate in anger management, mental health assessments and treatment, and substance abuse assessments.

“For your sake, for your kid’s sake, and community’s sake, I hope you’re never here again,” said Judge Okun.

No further dates were scheduled.

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