Cook County Judge Thomas Nowinski not hearing domestic violence cases after freeing alleged killer Constantin Beldi

CHICAGO (WLS) — A Cook County judge who released a suspect who later allegedly killed his wife is not currently hearing cases involving domestic violence or protective orders, according to a Tuesday statement from the chief judge’s office.

In October, Judge Thomas Nowinski allowed Constantin Beldi to be released on electronic monitoring despite prosecutors’ request to keep him in prison.

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Last week Lacramioara Beldie was stabbed to death.

Court documents detail the tragic story of a woman fearing for her life and trying to distance herself from what she called a dangerous relationship with her husband.

Her accused attacker went on trial on charges of strangulation and battery, and a day later he allegedly took her life.

Court documents tell the story of a woman who tried for months to keep her husband away from her, seeking not one, but two protection orders against Constantine Beldi this year. His most recent conviction came last month when he was charged with beating her, strangling her and holding her against her will.

Prosecutors told the court that Constantin Beldie poses a flight risk and a real and present danger to the community and should be detained. Instead, he was released on electronic monitoring.

Constantin Beldie was found dead by suicide in a vehicle a block from where his wife was killed.

An off-duty Chicago police detective was also injured in the fatal stabbing attack in Jefferson Park.

Some people want to judge to step down.

In a statement Tuesday, Chief Justice Timothy Evans said: “The tragic death of Lacramioara Beldie is a death that should not have occurred. The preliminary findings of our preliminary examination of this case indicate that the court received incomplete information about the case and made the best decisions it could. could have, given the information provided to the court at the time. This unfortunate situation has exposed gaps in the policies and procedures that the Office of the Chief Justice manages to ensure that no other victims of domestic violence suffer such a fate.”

Evans said his office is investigating whether any employees failed to follow policies and procedures in the case, and additional training will be provided to all judges who hear domestic violence cases and applications for protection orders.

He said his staff is also working to strengthen electronic monitoring processes and protocols.

“Every day, Cook County judges work to protect communities from violent criminals while respecting the constitutional rights of defendants. This involves making difficult decisions based on the best information they have. While superior courts have the power to review these decisions, inter-divisional transfer and assignment tribunals are never the result of independent judicial decision-making,” the statement said.

Evans said Nowinski has been receiving anonymous threats since the incident.

Every year, thousands of residents turn to the Cook County Domestic Violence Court seeking protection from their abusers.

You can contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-877-863-6338, click Here for more information.

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