"Stith spent nearly a year in jail until last August, after Judge Brian Caruth set bail at a July court hearing. Caruth ordered Stith to reside at a transitional housing center and obey all laws while out of custody, according to a transcript of the bail hearing. Given her conduct with regards to efforts at rehabilitation, the court is inclined to believe Ms. Stith is not particularly prone to continue to engage in violent conduct if released from custody."
"Deputy public defender Zafir Shaiq, who represents Stith, argued that Caruth should look at the 16 months between White's May 1, 2023 killing and Stith's eventual arrest in 2024, citing a probation officer's assessment that Stith was amazing during this time. This isn't a situation where Ms. Stith just managed to keep her nose clean for 16 months while this case was pending. She thrived. She excelled, Shaiq said."
"Deputy District Attorney Nick Homer objected to Stith's release, arguing that the violent nature of the attack — as well as the alleged cover up — paint a picture of a woman who would endanger the public while out of jail. There's no less restrictive means other than incarceration that can ensure that this trial proceeds fairly because, as we know, domestic violence occurs in the home in private, Homer said in court."
Kennedy Stith, 28, was charged in September 2024 with fatally stabbing 32-year-old Edevion White and allegedly inventing a home-invasion story to conceal the crime. Stith spent nearly a year in jail before a judge set bail and ordered her to reside at a transitional housing center and obey all laws while released. The judge noted rehabilitation efforts suggesting she is not particularly prone to further violent conduct but acknowledged the gravity of the offense. Defense counsel cited 16 months of positive behavior and probation officer praise. The prosecutor argued the violent attack and alleged cover-up pose public safety risks and that less restrictive measures cannot ensure trial fairness.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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