Tina Stewart Murder Suspect Shanterrica Madden Claims Self Defense

The lawyer for Shanterrica Madden, the suspect in the murder of Middle Tennessee State University women’s basketball player Clantina “Tina” Stewart, claimed that his client acted in self defense in the fatal stabbing, according to a report.

Joe Brandon told a reporter at Madden’s Thursday morning arraignment that Madden was being beaten up by Stewart and had stabbed her with Stewart’s own knife, according to the Daily News Journal.

Officials have said the two women got into a fight in their apartment when Madden pulled out a knife and stabbed Stewart.

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The 21-year-old Stewart was a junior at MTSU and is originally from Memphis.

Police received an anonymous 911 call from an off-campus apartment complex just before 7:00 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived on scene they found Stewart stabbed several times, reports CBS affiliate WTVF. {snip}

Middle Tennessee State officials are meeting with the Blue Raiders women’s basketball team and will let the squad decide if they want to play in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference tournament after the stabbing death of their teammate.

Eighteen-year-old Shanterrica Madden has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing of junior guard Tina Stewart from Memphis. Police found the 21-year-old Stewart stabbed repeatedly inside her apartment. She was taken to Middle Tennessee Medical Center and was later pronounced dead.

{snip} The Middle Tennessee women are the No. 1 seed from the East and scheduled to play their first game Sunday in Hot Springs, Ark.

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Attorney Joe Brandon told The Associated Press on Thursday that Madden used Stewart’s own knife on her during a fight. He did not say what the altercation was about.

“Miss Stewart, who was an athlete, had Miss Madden down on the ground beating on her. Miss Madden has an abrasion above her left eye, looks like perhaps a fingernail. She has swelling to both of her eyes. And during the course of the fight, a knife belonging to Miss Stewart that was in Miss Stewart’s possession ended up getting used on Miss Stewart,” Brandon said.

An MTSU freshman, Madden is being held without bond on a charge of first-degree murder. Her attorney won a request that Madden be photographed by police to document her injuries as proof of the fight. Brandon said he will file a motion asking that bond be set for Madden. She is scheduled back in Rutherford County General Sessions Court on March 11.

Stewart averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28 games this season for the Blue Raiders (23-6, 14-2).

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