Cook County Judge Thomas Nowinski won’t hear domestic violence cases after releasing alleged killer Constantin Beldie

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

In October, Judge Thomas Nowinski allowed Constantin Beldie to be released on electronic monitoring despite prosecutors’ request that he remain in prison because they deemed him a risk to society.

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Last Tuesday, Lacramioara Beldie was stabbed to death.

Court documents detail the tragic story of a woman who feared for her life and tried to distance herself from what she described as a dangerous relationship with her husband.

The accused attacker was in court accused of strangling and beating her before he allegedly took his own life a day later.

Court documents tell the story of a woman who worked for months to keep her husband away from her and, just this year, sought not one but two protective orders against Constantin Beldie. The most recent was last month after he was accused of beating, strangling and holding her against her will.

Prosecutors told the court Constantin Beldie was a flight risk and a real and present threat to society and should be detained. Instead he was released with electronic monitoring.

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

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

some want judge’s resignation.

“The tragic death of Lacramioara Beldie is an event that should not have happened. The preliminary findings of our preliminary review of this case indicate that the court was given incomplete information about the case and made its best decisions in this matter,” Chief Justice Timothy Evans said in a statement on Tuesday. “This unfortunate situation has exposed gaps in the policies and procedures the Chief Justice has addressed to ensure that no other victims of domestic violence suffer this fate.”

Evans said his office is investigating whether any employees followed policies and procedures in the case and that additional training will be provided to all judges handling domestic violence cases and protection order petitions.

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

“Cook County judges work every day to protect the community from violent criminals while also respecting the constitutional rights of defendants. This includes making difficult decisions with the best information at their disposal. While superior courts have the authority to review these decisions, interdivisional judicial units said in the statement. It was stated that transfers and appointments were never the result of the judge’s independent decision-making.

Evans said Nowinski has received anonymous threats since the incident.

Each year, thousands of residents come to Cook County’s domestic violence court seeking protection from abusers.

You can reach the Illinois domestic violence hotline at 1-877-863-6338. Here for more information.