Stabbing accused testifies after being denied acquittal

By Adrianna Bhan, Emily Reed – June 11, 2024
Daily Stories | stab | Suspects | Victims |

After Washington Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro denied his request for acquittal during a June 10 hearing, the defendant in a prison stabbing case testified that he feared for his life.

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.

According to the prosecution, video surveillance footage taken from different angles in the DC jail shows an individual, identified as Johnson, physically fighting with the victim. Officers responded with pepper spray to calm the situation. However, the victim was found with stab wounds all over his body and was taken to the prison infirmary.

Matthew Rist, Johnson's defense attorney, asked for acquittal on all charges.

Rist argued that video evidence provided by the prosecution showed Johnson did not possess a weapon nor was he the aggressor. Judge Di Toro denied the motion, saying a jury could reasonably conclude that the prosecution had met its burden of proof.

After the motion was denied, Rist called Johnson to testify.

According to Johnson, he was in the prison's television room when the victim and three others confronted him. Johnson said he was “scared” by their presence and felt “something was about to happen.”

Johnson said the victim began arguing with him, stating, “The men around you say you leave me notes.” Johnson then said the victim told him “you gotta ride or yeah,” which Johnson understood as a threat that if he didn't leave the area something would happen to him.

During this time, the victim said Johnson left anonymous notes stating that if the victim was not removed from the housing block, she would be killed.

Johnson said he was acting in self-defense, although he admitted to throwing the first punch, surveillance footage shows.

“I came out of what I thought was a four-on-one,” Johnson insisted.

Rist referenced the video footage, again pointing to another individual close to the fight who pulled an object from his pocket that could have been the white handle of the knife the prosecution presented as evidence on June 6.

Johnson identified this individual as the one who handed the knife to the victim. Johnson said the victim was much stronger than him and feared she would “end up dead” if she didn't get the knife. He later testified that his arm was cut while trying to grab the knife.

Johnson said being called a “snitch” posed a threat to his safety. When asked if he still felt threatened by the victim, Johnson began to tremble: “Even to testify, I'm afraid.” »

Under cross-examination, Johnson denied writing or seeing a note about the victim, testifying that he “wasn't a snitch.”

“You did very well, I know it wasn’t easy for you,” Rist told Johnson as he left the witness stand.

Following Johnson's testimony, the defense rested its case.

The parties are expected to return June 11 for final arguments.

Notifications are not yet available for this specific case. Please check back later for updates. THANKS.