Attorney: Husband accused of killing wife didn?t know she was dead when he left - Detroit News
Last Updated: September 30. 2011�3:12PM
Mike Martindale/ The Detroit News
Southfield�? The attorney for a man charged with choking his wife to death in front of their children said Friday his client was only defending himself and left the house not knowing his wife was dead.
Rahim Lockridge, 38, appeared before Southfield District Judge Sheila Johnson Friday for the Sept. 19 slaying death of his wife, Kenyatta. Lockridge waived his right to a preliminary exam within 14 days because an autopsy protocol in the death was not complete, defense attorney Jerome Sabbota said. Johnson scheduled an Oct. 28 exam for Lockridge, who is held in the Oakland County Jail without bond.
?Right now, it has been determined a homicide, and he is charged with open murder,? Sabbota told reporters outside the courtroom. ?But I want to see the full autopsy report and findings before we move forward.?
Sabbota said open murder could involve a wide range of lower offenses�? second-degree murder, manslaughter. And while ruled a homicide�? a murder of a person by another�? it could ultimately be proved to be accidental or in self-defense.
?This (case) is not what everyone believes it to be,? he said. ?He loved her, but this was an abusive relationship. And he says on the night this happened, they were arguing over money, and she attacked him.?
The couple?s three children, aged 8, 11 and 16, were all in the home on Potomac during the argument and pleaded with their father to let go of their mother, police said. When he released his grip on her, she dropped to the floor, and he fled the house.
The girls called 911 and unsuccessfully attempted CPR on their mother. Lockridge was arrested two hours later in Detroit.
?When he left the house, he didn?t realize she was dead. He didn?t even know the extent of her injuries,? Sabbota said.
Lockridge had an earlier arrest for domestic violence in November involving his wife, but the charge was reduced to disorderly conduct.
?He was subjected to physical abuse on several occasions but never reported them,? Sabbota said. ?That?s not uncommon among men.?
mmartindale@detnews.com
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Source: http://detnews.com/article/20110930/METRO02/109300415/Attorney?Husband-accused-of-killing-wife-didn%E2%80%99t-know-she-was-dead-when-he-left
Source: http://rubikoblwondell.tumblr.com/post/10977667039
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