State’s Attorney says weekend stabbing in Belleville was case of self-defense
The woman police took into custody at the scene of a fatal stabbing in Belleville over the weekend will not be charged because she acted in self defense, the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office said Monday.
The 27-year-old woman, who is not being identified, was taken into police custody early Saturday when police found her waiting for them outside of a residence in the 2100 block of Scheel Street. Police were responding to a 2:57 a.m. emergency call at the home, where they found 31-year-old Terrance Cherry bleeding from a stab wound to the torso inside.
Cherry was transported to Memorial Hospital in Belleville, where he died from his injuries at 3:48 a.m. on Saturday, said St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye. The woman was released from police custody on Sunday without charges, though the investigation continued.
“After thorough investigation by the Belleville Police Department, this office has made the determination that this was a case of self-defense which does not warrant the issuance of criminal charges,” Gomric’s statement said. “This office will continue to combat violent crime in St. Clair County where justice requires, with due consideration of the facts of each case.”
According to a deputy coroner at Dye’s office, an autopsy for Cherry was conducted Sunday, but it is still unclear what was used to stab Cherry. An official cause of death was not immediately available.
Though the woman’s relationship to Cherry was not revealed, Belleville police said in a statement over the weekend that the case was “domestic in nature.”
According to the St. Clair County web site, victims of domestic violence can apply for an order of protection Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom 305 of the county building. Hearings on those applications are held in the afternoon of the same day. Personnel from the Violence Prevention Center and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation will be in the courtroom to assist people in filling out the necessary paperwork.
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 4:32 PM.
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