Defense attacks witness's credibility in prison stabbing trial

By Emily Reed
– June 7, 2024
Daily Stories | stab | Suspects |

The prosecution and defense argued a prison violence case before Judge Jennifer Di Toro in Washington Superior Court on June 6.

Antoine Donvell Johnson, 28, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault causing great bodily harm and unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution for his alleged involvement in a stabbing that occurred at the DC Jail, in the 1900 block of D. Street, SE, on January 15.

Prosecutors say video footage from the D.C. jail shows an individual, identified as Johnson, physically fighting with the victim. Police responded and used pepper spray to calm the situation. The victim was found with multiple stab wounds all over his body and was transported to the infirmary.

The prosecution called four correctional officers and an intensive care doctor who treated the victim at MedStar Hospital, corroborating multiple stab wounds found on the victim's body and details of the fight.

One of the officers, a corporal assigned to the area of ​​the prison where Johnson and the victim were held, testified that at the time of the incident he was walking around the room because “something was wrong.”

When he heard the fight break out, the witness said he tried to use pepper spray on Johnson and the victim to “gain control of the situation.” However, fans threw pepper spray back in his face. The witness was temporarily blinded and called for backup.

According to the witness, after clearing his vision, he returned to the scene to administer pepper spray a second time, when he allegedly saw Johnson with a knife, stabbing the victim. The witness identified Johnson in the courtroom.

Under cross-examination, the witness said the victim spoke with another inmate in an “angry tone” before confronting Johnson “aggressively.” Additionally, he said the third inmate – who the victim was previously arguing with – approached the fight.

It was after the third inmate walked away that the witness saw the knife.

Prosecutors also called an officer from the DC Jail's Tactical Response Unit (TRU), who testified to video footage from his body-worn camera at the time of the incident.

The footage, which was played in court, showed the witness responding to an “all available” call and arriving at the scene as the fight was taking place. The witness pepper sprayed the suspect and victim before removing the victim from the situation.

The officer described the victim as appearing “distressed and disoriented.” He said he did not handcuff the victim because he was afraid she would pass out from so much blood loss. He then took the victim to the infirmary, who was then transferred to MedStar, according to the officer.

During cross-examination, defense attorney Matthew Rist raised questions about the officer's credibility.

The officer said he did not remember telling the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) about the incident. This statement apparently contradicted his previous testimony to a grand jury in January, where he confirmed that such a conversation did take place.

Another is an alleged phone call reporting accusations of abuse against the officer by his significant other. The officer said he was not aware of the report.

Judge Di Toro said Rist had the right to question the officer about his knowledge of the report at the time of Johnson's investigation.

The celebrations should resume on June 10.

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