Nationwide — Keshia Golden, an African American mom from Chicago, Illinois, who fatally stabbed her boyfriend while she was eight months pregnant, has avoided prison after pleading guilty to a reduced charge in his 2022 death. She received two years of probation Monday in the killing of Calvin Sidney. Her attorneys have maintained that she acted in self-defense during a violent confrontation and was trying to protect herself and her unborn child.
The fatal confrontation followed the couple’s baby shower in October 2022. Prosecutors said Golden and Sidney were arguing during the early morning hours of Oct. 23 when Sidney grabbed her and pushed her onto a counter. Family members intervened and separated them before Sidney went into a bedroom to lie down.
Prosecutors said Golden later followed him into the room with a knife and stabbed him in the leg, hitting his femoral artery. Sidney was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died. Golden’s attorneys disputed that account, saying Sidney repeatedly slammed her head against a countertop before she grabbed the knife and stabbed him to defend herself.
Her lawyers also pointed to a history of alleged domestic violence in the relationship. Police records show that more than 50 domestic violence calls had been made from the couple’s home. Golden had also obtained an order of protection against Sidney in July 2022 after accusing him of punching her in the face.
Golden was initially charged with first-degree murder and held on a $2 million bond. A judge later reduced the bond to $50,000, while community groups helped raise the $5,000 needed for her release. She was freed before giving birth. Her case was scheduled for a bench trial Monday, but she instead accepted a plea deal for Class 3 involuntary manslaughter and received probation, according to Fox 32 Chicago.
Domestic violence advocates had called on Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke to dismiss the murder charge. Golden’s attorneys also asked prosecutors to drop the case, but the request was denied. Prosecutors had previously offered a second-degree murder deal that would have resulted in 24 months of probation and a felony conviction.
After Monday’s plea, Golden’s attorneys criticized prosecutors for pursuing the first-degree murder case for nearly four years. They said Golden accepted the deal because she wanted to remain free to raise her daughter. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office defended its handling of the case, saying prosecutors carefully review the evidence and applicable law before deciding what charges to pursue. The office also said it remains committed to addressing domestic violence and seeking justice for victims.