Parties make opening statements in a drug-related stabbing

By Joseph Wolf
– October 9, 2024
Daily Stories | piercing | Suspicious |

On October 8, the parties made opening statements in the jury trial of a stabbing defendant before D.C. Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow.

Warnell Reams, 57, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and obstruction of justice for his alleged involvement in a June 5 stabbing in the 200 block of Vine Street, NW. One person suffered injuries.

According to court documents, Reams allegedly met the victim to get drugs. He returned to the scene some time later because he believed he had not been given all of the medication he had purchased. After an argument, Reams allegedly stabbed the victim twice in his left arm and once in the left side of his stomach.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers went to the hospital so the victim could identify the suspect, according to court documents. They used a photo array consisting of nine people, and the victim allegedly identified Reams as the suspect.

In the prosecutor’s opening statement, she explained that the victim knew the defendant, although he had given the police a somewhat false name. Similarly, she stated that the victim suffered from hallucinations but was certain that Reams was the man who attacked him.

Reams’ defense attorney, Michelle Lockard, told the jury that the knife pierced the victim after Reams pushed him away. Additionally, she told the jury that leading up to the stabbing, the victim allowed Reams to sleep on his couch and stole money from Reams, explaining that they knew each other from the drug trade that sparked the argument.

During the incident, she argued that Reams discovered $100 missing and went to the victim’s apartment to retrieve it. She stated that when Reams entered the apartment, the victim ran for a knife and struck him.

According to Lockard, Reams grabbed the victim’s wrists and the knife twisted, slashing his left arm and stabbing his stomach.

After opening statements, the prosecution called the victim to the witness stand.

He testified that Reams and a friend went to his apartment late at night to pick up a television that Reams had loaned to the victim.

According to the victim, Reams returned less than an hour later and accused him of still having items that belonged to him. After a verbal argument, the victim said, he was cornered. After slashing the victim, Reams reportedly panicked at the sight of blood and ran out of the apartment, the victim said.

Under cross-examination, the victim contradicted his story, claiming he did not own a sofa, never let Reams live with him, and never took money from him.

The trial is scheduled to continue on October 9th.