Daughter Of Former U.S. Diplomat Convicted In Fatal Maryland Stabbing

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — The daughter of a former U.S. diplomat was convicted of second-degree homicide Tuesday within the 2020 stabbing dying of 24-year-old Yousuf Rasmussen.

Montgomery County State’s Lawyer John McCarthy stated Sophia Negroponte, 29, of Washington, D.C. was discovered responsible following an almost month-long trial in Montgomery County Circuit Courtroom. She faces as much as 40 years in jail.

Negroponte is the daughter of John Negroponte, who was appointed because the nation’s first director of nationwide intelligence in 2005 by President George W. Bush. He additionally served as an envoy to Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, Iraq and the United Nations, in keeping with The Washington Publish.

On Feb. 13, 2020, police had been known as to the 400 block of West Montgomery Avenue, the place Negroponte was staying in a short-term rental positioned behind the property. In line with McCarthy, Negroponte and Rasmussen, who had been pals since highschool, had been collectively on the rental and consuming “substantial quantities of alcohol.”

McCarthy stated Negroponte and Rasmussen fought on two separate events that night time earlier than Rasmussen determined to go away. Rasmussen returned to the home after forgetting his cellphone, which is when Negroponte stabbed him a number of occasions within the neck with a knife.

The jurors, who deliberated for about 16 hours, didn’t discover Negroponte responsible of first-degree homicide.

When convicting her on the cost of second-degree homicide, jurors stated Negroponte acted with a “wicked coronary heart” when she wielded a knife close to Rasmussen’s throat and “acted with excessive disregard of the life-endangering penalties,” in keeping with The Publish.

Rasmussen’s household launched an announcement following the announcement of the decision.

“Yousuf was a sort and mild soul, a loving one that introduced our household and his many pals nice pleasure in his 24 years of life. We are going to carry him with us ceaselessly,” his household stated.

Following the decision, Montgomery County Circuit Courtroom Decide Terrence McGann ordered Negroponte’s bond revoked and she or he was taken into custody.

Negroponte’s sentencing is scheduled for March 31.

John Negroponte, 83, stated his household will focus on a attainable enchantment with their attorneys, in keeping with The Related Press.

“Neither the prosecutors nor maybe the jury took into adequate consideration the complexities and mitigating circumstances of the case — Sophia’s previous trauma and different components that led to a really troubled existence. She’s had extreme alcohol use dysfunction,” John Negroponte stated.