Pregnant Woman Fatally Defends Herself from Abusive Partner During Post-Baby Shower Attack, Lawyer Says

Supporters and legal representatives of a Chicago woman are calling for the dismissal of charges against her after she fatally stabbed her boyfriend, allegedly in self-defense, during a violent altercation. The incident occurred while the woman, who was pregnant at the time, was being attacked following her baby shower.

Julie Koehler, attorney for Keshia Golden, spoke out at a recent rally, emphasizing that Golden acted to protect herself and her unborn child from harm. “She reached for a knife to defend herself against an attacker intent on endangering both her and her child’s lives,” Koehler asserted, as reported by local ABC affiliate WLS.

The incident involved Calvin Sidney, the father of Golden’s child, who allegedly assaulted Golden by pulling her hair and slamming her head against a kitchen counter. This violent encounter reportedly escalated into another room, leading Golden to grab a knife and stab Sidney in the leg, according to Koehler’s account of the 2022 event.

Prosecutors have a different narrative, suggesting the conflict began with an argument over the use of a microwave. They claim Golden knocked a plate of food from Sidney’s hands, prompting him to push her against the counter.

Golden is accused of retreating to a bedroom with the knife, where Sidney followed her. Prosecutors allege that she stabbed him while he was on the bed, with the knife severing his femoral artery, resulting in his death from the injury.

Supporters showed up to the Golden rally last week with signs saying “Free Keshia” and “Survived + Punished: We stand with Keshia Golden” as she faces a first-degree murder charge in Cook County for the slaying.

Prosecutors say they offered Golden a deal to resolve the case, which included a plea to a reduced charge of second-degree murder with no additional time served. But she reportedly turned it down.

“That would be two years probation, but I mean, she checks in every day with pretrial already,” said Sierra Bartlett, with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office.

“She’s been doing that for three years. She’s proved that she is an upstanding citizen, and she doesn’t deserve any of this,” Bartlett told reporters. “I hope that Eileen O’Neill Burke [Cook County state’s attorney] does the right thing, because this is telling the women of Cook County that if you are in a violent relationship and you try to defend yourself, you could be facing first-degree murder charges.”

Court documents show that there were at least five police reports made of domestic violence involving Golden and her boyfriend, according to local NBC affiliate WMAQ. Four of the incidents involved allegations of physical violence, including choking, slapping, pushing and punching, WMAQ reports.

“Justice is not ignoring a woman cries for help until it’s too late and then condemning her for surviving,” said Dyanna Winchester, with the Women’s Justice Institute, at the rally last Monday.

“He choked her while she was 18 weeks pregnant,” Bartlett added. “So there’s lots of documentation, and I wish there had been more intervention at those earlier stages.”

Golden’s trial is expected to start over the summer.