“I pulled the knife out myself,” stabbing victim tells jury

By Yessica Osorio
– 23 September 2024
Daily Stories | Stabbings | Suspects |

Recalling his shock after a stabbing, a victim told the jury he removed the knife from the wound himself on September 19 before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

Amadelia Hernandez, 35, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly being involved in a non-fatal stabbing attack that occurred in the 400 block of Emerson Street, NW, on March 29. One person sustained injuries in that incident.

In their opening statement, the prosecution said the victim suffered a cut from a chef's knife the night of the incident when Hernandez allegedly stabbed him.

According to prosecutors, some of the blood in the apartment where the incident occurred had already been mopped up before police and emergency services arrived.

Hernandez's lawyer, Damon Catacalos, argued that she acted in self-defense.

According to Catacalos, the victim is an alcoholic who acts aggressively when under the influence of alcohol. He argued that this happened on the night of the incident because medical documents showed that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

When prosecutors called the victim to testify, he recalled watching TikTok videos on his cellphone with his landlord and laughing about them. The victim said he was making a smoothie when he started feeling “heat” in his lower back.

The victim told the jury he realized he had been stabbed when he pulled the knife out and threw it in the kitchen sink. He told the landlord to call 911, and the landlord identified the defendant as the person who allegedly stabbed the victim.

The victim testified that while waiting for the police to arrive, she observed the defendant and another tenant in the household removing evidence.

During cross-examination, the defense asked the victim about his drinking problem. The victim said he had been in rehab for about two weeks and had not had anything to drink at the time of the incident.

The officer who responded to the call described in her statement the victim's demeanor as calm but shocked when he first spoke to police and showed his injury.

The defense asked about the night before the stabbing, when the victim allegedly pointed a knife at the defendant's stomach and laughed. Although police were called, no arrests were made.

The victim denied the allegations.

The trial will continue on September 23.