SUTTONS BAY -- A Lake Leelanau man could soon be bound over for trial in a man's stabbing death, though his attorneys contend he acted in self-defense.
Ricardo Roman Jr.'s preliminary examination began Dec. 18 and is scheduled to resume Monday. Such exams are held to determine if there's enough evidence to send a case to trial, and Roman could be bound over on an open count of murder when the exam wraps.
Authorities believe Roman fatally stabbed Craig Romer, 33, at Roman's home on French Road in Leelanau County's Leland Township Nov. 16. Romer arrived at the house at about 1 a.m. and was stabbed with a kitchen knife during an ensuing altercation.
Prosecutors and friends of Romer said he showed up to pick up his young daughter. His ex-girlfriend and mother of the child is in a relationship with Roman, friends said.
But Roman's attorney, Jeffrey Slocombe, contends Romer left threatening messages with Roman and came to the home looking for trouble. Romer had been drinking and was driven to the home by a friend, Slocombe said.
"This is one o'clock in the morning, he's not coming there to get his daughter," he said.
Slocombe believes Roman acted to protect himself from Romer.
"Self-defense is a complete defense to the charge, and ultimately it will be up to the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that my client was not acting in self-defense," he said.
Leelanau Prosecutor Joe Hubbell said the self-defense issue is "routinely raised" in murder cases. He hopes testimony on Monday from Grand Rapids-based forensic pathologist Stephen Cohle, who conducted Romer's autopsy, will counter that theory.
"I think that's the obvious defense that has to be overcome," Hubbell said. "We believe this was not done in self-defense, and we believe the testimony of Dr. Cohle on Monday will help demonstrate that ... the real question is, was the defendant confronted with imminent harm?"
Both Roman and Romer had numerous run-ins with the law. Roman had been booked 13 times into the Leelanau County Jail, and Romer was there on six occasions, officials said. Roman also spent three years in prison on drug charges, Michigan Department of Corrections records show.
