A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Michael Gayle for the stabbing death of Eboni Domally on June 29.
Police found Domally, 31, with multiple stab wounds to her back and stomach in the 5200 block of Queens Stroll Place Southeast.
Domally’s nine-year-old son watched Gayle as he choked his mother and stabbed her over and over again, Assistant U.S. Attorney Magdalena Acevedo told the court.
According to both police and the son, this wasn’t the first physical encounter between Domally and Gayle.
“There was a history of domestic violence between Domally and Gayle,” MPD officer Paris White testified. “Domally sent text to her family that if anything happened to her, Gayle would be responsible.”
Defense attorney Sean Hanover argued that there was no weapon and no evidence found that could be tied to Gayle.
Charging documents say after Gayle’s arrest in August, he told police he stabbed Domally in self-defense that night after she attacked him with a knife from the pocket of her nightgown.
Before her ruling, Judge Lynn Leibovitz said she believed the evidence in the case to be “extraordinarily high” and “convincing.”
“Gayle violated a stay-away order that was issued previously, involving the victim in this case, when he entered Domally’s home,” Leibovitz said. “He also admitted that he disarmed Domally and stabbed her, which would eliminate self-defense.” The judge added: “I find you extremely dangerous and a risk of flight.”
Gayle is scheduled for a felony status conference Dec. 10 at 9:30 before Judge Lynn Leibovitz.
