CHICAGO _ Saying he was troubled by the claims of self-defense, a judge on Thursday denied bail for an ex-Marine accused of killing another man outside a bar in Chicago late last month.
Thomas Tansey, 30, has told police he was defending himself when he used a box cutter to stab and slash Kenneth Paterimos, 23, eight times in the arm, back and neck outside Richard's Bar in the West Town neighborhood on Feb. 21.
At a hearing Thursday, Tansey's attorney argued that the first-degree murder charges were not justified and Tansey should be released on bond. "Obviously, this is not a murder one situation," said Sam Amirante.
But Judge Charles Beach II noted that many of the wounds suffered by Paterimos were in the back, calling into question self-defense.
"What most bothers me were the location of the stab wounds," Beach said. He said they did not indicate that Tansey and Paterimos were "mutual combatants."
Two people smoking outside the bar told police they saw Tansey and Paterimos punching each other, according to Assistant State's Attorney James Murphy. A friend of Paterimos put his arms around him and pulled him off Tansey, and Tansey then stabbed him, Murphy said.
The judge asked if there was a "size disparity" between the two. Murphy replied that Paterimos "was quite a bit smaller."
The judge also noted that Tansey has a violent past. In December of 2016, Tansey followed another driver and got into a fight once they both exited their vehicles, according to Arlington Heights police. Tansey pulled out a handgun and tried to pistol-whip the man but missed, causing both to fall to the ground. The other driver disarmed Tansey, who was charged with misdemeanor battery and unlawful use of a weapon. Tansey pleaded guilty to the battery charge, and prosecutors dropped the weapons charge.
On the night of the stabbing, witnesses have said Tansey appeared intoxicated when he began fighting with Paterimos inside the bar around 11:20 p.m., according to police. Tansey was kicked out but then attacked Paterimos when he walked out minutes later, according to police.
Some witnesses told police Tansey had earlier yelled a homophobic slur at Paterimos, who was bisexual, but that was not mentioned in court Thursday. Tansey was released two days later after he claimed self-defense, according to police. Then last Thursday police issued an arrest warrant for Tansey charging him with murder.
Tansey served in the Marine Corps for five years and was deployed in Afghanistan as a military vehicle operator from 2012 to 2013, according to a Marine spokeswoman. He rose to the rank of corporal before a 2013 discharge, the spokeswoman said. His LinkedIn page says his most recent employment was at an asphalt paving company in Arlington Heights.
