A Chicago mother accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend while eight months pregnant is asking the court to dismiss the charges, arguing she acted in self-defense after a pattern of alleged domestic abuse.
Keshia Golden appeared in court on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, for a hearing as her attorneys push to have the murder charge dropped in the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Calvin Sidney.
Defense Argues Pattern of Abuse
Golden’s legal team from the public defender’s office contends she was defending herself during an attack by Sidney, who they say had a documented history of violence against her.
According to her attorneys, police responded to at least five domestic violence incidents involving the couple between June and September 2022. Golden had also obtained an order of protection against Sidney in July of that year.
Her lawyers argue the stabbing occurred in the context of ongoing abuse and immediate self-defense while she was heavily pregnant.
Prosecutors Dispute Self-Defense Claim
Prosecutors have declined to drop the charges and instead offered Golden a plea deal to a lesser charge of second-degree murder with two years of probation—an offer she rejected.
The state’s account of the घटना differs sharply from the defense narrative. Prosecutors allege the incident began with a dispute over use of a microwave, escalating when Golden allegedly knocked a plate of food from Sidney’s hands.
They claim Sidney pushed Golden during the altercation, after which a family member intervened and separated the two. Sidney then went into a bedroom.
According to prosecutors, Golden later entered the room with a knife and stabbed Sidney while he was lying on the bed, resulting in his death.
Case Heads Toward Trial
Golden remains free on bond as the case proceeds. Her daughter, whom she was pregnant with at the time of the incident, is now three years old.
A status hearing is scheduled for July 13, with a bench trial set for August 17. If the case proceeds, her attorney says trial is expected to begin later this summer.
Legal Questions Ahead
The case is likely to hinge on whether the court finds that Golden’s actions meet the legal threshold for self-defense, particularly given the history of alleged domestic violence and the circumstances immediately preceding the stabbing.
Legal analysts note that self-defense claims often depend on whether the defendant reasonably believed they were in imminent danger of serious harm and whether the use of force was proportionate.
