Prosecutors offered a second-degree murder plea with probation as the case heads to another hearing.
CHICAGO, Ill. — A Chicago woman charged with first-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of her boyfriend asked a Cook County judge on Tuesday to dismiss the case, with her lawyers saying she acted in self-defense while eight months pregnant after a baby shower for their child.
The request puts a spotlight on how prosecutors and courts weigh self-defense claims in intimate partner violence cases, especially when there is a long history of 911 calls and protection orders. Prosecutors declined to drop the charge against Keshia Golden, 36, and instead offered a plea deal to second-degree murder that would leave her with a felony conviction and two years of probation. Golden’s attorneys rejected the offer in court and said they will keep pressing for dismissal as the case moves forward.
The fatal encounter traces back to a weekend in October 2022. Golden and her then-boyfriend, Calvin Sidney, hosted a baby shower on Oct. 22, 2022, ahead of the birth of their child. Golden’s attorneys told the court that an argument that day turned physical and that Sidney dragged Golden by her hair toward a bedroom. Hours later, in the early morning of Oct. 23, prosecutors said the couple was arguing again when Sidney grabbed Golden and pushed her down onto a counter. Court records described relatives stepping in to separate them. Prosecutors said Sidney then went to the bedroom to lie down and that Golden armed herself with a knife, went into the bedroom and stabbed him in the leg, severing his femoral artery.
Sidney was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he died from his injuries, authorities said. Golden was arrested and initially held on a $2 million bond, but a judge later reduced it to $50,000, saying the lower amount was in the best interest of her unborn child. Golden was required to post $5,000 to be released. Community organizations that help cover bond for people who cannot afford it raised the money, and Golden was released in early November 2022, avoiding what her supporters said would have been giving birth in jail. Later that month, a grand jury indicted her on two counts of first-degree murder.
In court Tuesday, Golden’s public defenders framed the stabbing as a last resort after repeated violence, pointing to reports they say show a pattern of abuse. They said Golden had previously miscarried after being physically assaulted by Sidney. Police records cited in filings show more than 50 domestic violence-related calls from the couple’s home, including five calls between June and September 2022. In four of those calls, Golden reported that Sidney choked, punched, slapped or pushed her, according to records discussed in court. Prosecutors also pointed to a separate allegation in which Sidney said Golden stabbed him in the neck; he was hospitalized but did not pursue charges, according to the account aired in court.
Golden also sought court protection months before the stabbing, her attorneys said. Records cited by the defense show she obtained an order of protection against Sidney in July 2022 after an incident in which he allegedly punched her in the face. Her lawyers argued that those reports, along with the circumstances described from the early hours of Oct. 23, support a self-defense claim and undercut the state’s theory of an unlawful killing. “We are very disappointed today that the State’s Attorney has not agreed to dismiss the charges on Keshia’s case,” defense attorney Julie Koehler said outside court. Koehler said the defense is asking that the case be dismissed because, she said, Golden fought for her life and the life of her unborn child.
Prosecutors did not debate the facts in public on Tuesday, but their decision to keep the case moving signaled they are not backing away from the indictment. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a brief statement that the case remains pending and will continue through the judicial process. The office declined further comment. The plea offer described in court would have resolved the case with a second-degree murder conviction, two years of probation and a felony record, the defense said. Golden’s attorneys portrayed the offer as inconsistent with their view that the killing was justified and said she has complied with court conditions while the case has been pending.
As Golden left the courthouse, she was flanked by advocates for survivors of domestic violence, some dressed in purple, a color commonly linked to awareness efforts. Supporters said the case reflects broader concerns that women who report abuse can still face severe charges when violence escalates inside a relationship. Holly Krig of Moms United Against Violence and Incarceration, speaking in front of the courthouse, said women face higher risks of being killed by an intimate partner and argued that the legal system too often treats women’s claims of self-defense with skepticism. Krig called Golden’s prosecution a warning sign for survivors who seek help but do not get lasting protection.
Golden’s attorneys also emphasized what they described as her lack of prior involvement with the criminal justice system. They said she had no criminal record before the stabbing and has met the court’s requirements since her release. Koehler said Golden has participated in counseling and classes and has reported daily to pretrial services. “She has done everything over the past three years that they have asked,” Koehler said, describing her client as trying to rebuild her life while raising a child as the case drags on. The defense says the court should now end the prosecution, rather than push the case toward a trial or a plea.
The next step on the calendar is a status hearing scheduled for April 7 at 9 a.m., when attorneys are expected to return to court and address how the case will proceed. Golden remains charged with first-degree murder, and prosecutors have not said publicly whether they plan to present additional evidence or seek a trial date. For now, the core dispute remains whether the stabbing was a criminal act or an act of self-defense after a volatile relationship documented by repeated police calls and court records.
Author note: Last updated March 4, 2026.