Woman pleads guilty to weapons charge in fatal Clinton Street stabbing

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

One of two people charged in relation to the January killing of a woman on Clinton Street pleaded guilty this morning to a weapons charge, with the prosecutor telling the court the defendant made no physical contact with the victim.

Sonya R. Hall, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony.

Hall admitted to possessing a hunting knife Jan. 30 on Clinton Street with intent to use it unlawfully against 43-year-old Tammie Washington.

Hall, though, did not use the knife, prosecutor Philip Mueller told the court. Mueller said Washington was killed by the man Hall was with, Perry L. Miller, 33.

Miller faces one count of second-degree murder and is awaiting indictment.

“She did not physically have any contact with Ms. Washington,” Mueller told the court, “but she did hold the knife at one point with intent to use it against Ms. Washington.”

Hall was originally charged with first-degree assault and the weapons count. She was never formally charged with murder.

In return for her plea, Hall is to receive a total of 1.5 to 4.5 years in state prison. She would receive that if she fulfills her end of what was termed a cooperation agreement. The details of that agreement, however, were not discussed in court and were placed under seal.

Washington, Hall and Miller were at the Salvation Army that morning for the organization’s breakfast program. There, an argument erupted and, when they refused to stop, they were asked to leave.

Program workers tried to mediate the argument outside, but it continued off Salvation Army property. Hall and Miller walked away, but witnesses said Washington followed.

She was stabbed less than two blocks away. Miller and Hall were arrested soon after.

Miller was described in court Monday by Mueller as a member of the Crips gang.

Records show Miller has been accused of stabbing someone in a similar manner, also in the downtown area, in 2009. In that case, the victim survived.

Both Miller and Hall remain in custody.