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Lawyer files requests for defendant in fatal Rome stabbing case

By WKTV News

Story Created: Dec 13, 2011 at 1:27 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 13, 2011 at 1:27 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The lawyer for the Brooklyn man accused of stabbing a Rome man to death earlier this year has made some requests on his behalf.

Terrance Dames, 26, of Brooklyn, is accused of stabbing Stephen LaPointe to death on a Rome street corner in September. Dames has told police that LaPointe started an argument in the area of Lawrence and Depeyster Streets by saying a racial slur. Dames claims that he then wrestled a knife from LaPointe and stabbed him in self defense.

In late September, LaPointe's brother, Sheldon Brown, who witnessed the crime, took the stand at a felony hearing and said he saw Dames pull the knife, and saw the actual blade. Another brother said that Dames story just doesn't ring true.

"My brother's story, everyone sticks, everyone has the same story, then he has this crazy story about how my brother tried to attack him, he was just trying to walk by himself. I don't believe that at all. My brother like I said, he was kind of a hot head but he wasn't a confrontational person, that's not who he was," says Nicholas LaPointe said following that felony hearing in September.

In late November, Dames rejected a plea offer by the Oneida County District Attorney's Office, and chose instead to go to trial.

On Tuesday, Dames' attorney filed motions in Oneida County Court in Utica, making certain requests of the court.

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