It's not easy to prove self defense in a murder case, especially if there are no witnesses. And the case of 24-year-old Douglas Park resident Edrinna Bryant (Tribune), arrested for stabbing to death her live-in boyfriend, is a particularly tough case to call.
On the one hand, 7% of women are physically abused by their partners and 42% of murdered women are killed by their spouses or intimate partners (A Safe Place for Help).
But, in this case, witnesses allege Bryant faked evidence of physical abuse to support her claim that she killed Hardy in self defense.
According to Assistant State's Attorney Antara Nath:
"When Bryant arrived at the hospital, hospital personnel saw no injuries on Bryant, but after she left to move her car, she returned with what hospital personnel said appeared to be 'obviously' self-inflicted stab wounds to her hand."
So perhaps Bryant tried to cover up a cold-blooded murder?
Bryant, however, says her boyfriend had a long history of domestic violence. And neighbors say they heard the two arguing.
They didn't see the killing itself, however. All they saw was the aftermath: Bryant standing over Hardy with a butcher's knife, then putting him into her car to drive him to the hospital.
Entire episodes of "Law & Order" have revolved around the difficult question of whether a murderous woman committed the act out of self defense or simply saw it as a good cover for murder. It will be interesting to see what Bryant's Chicago criminal defense attorney has to say on her behalf if the case reaches trial.
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Defenses to Criminal Charges (FindLaw)
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Battered Women Who Kill (Cybergirl.com)
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