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Police: Death Self-Defense

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By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

PLANT CITY - A woman who stabbed her boyfriend during a violent confrontation last month acted in self-defense and will not be charged with a crime, a prosecutor said.

Tamesha Doreen Miles, 22, had marks on her that were consistent with abuse and her boyfriend, Terry T. Townsend, had been arrested in February on a charge of battering her, officials said.

Townsend, 26, died at South Florida Baptist Hospital shortly after the stabbing, reported at 12:51 p.m., April 7. Miles, who took him to the hospital, initially told hospital personnel Townsend was stabbed in a robbery attempt in the 600 block of N. Maryland Avenue, but when questioned by police said it happened at her home, police Sgt. James Shultz said.

Miles told officers that she lied about how he got hurt at the urging of Townsend, who told her what to say before he lost consciousness, Shultz said.

Plant City police referred the case to the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office in Tampa, which conducted a May 8 homicide review.

"We were unable to refute the claim of self-defense," Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said.

Therefore, the state will not file charges against her.

The homicide review, which included a review of witness statements and crime scene photographs, determined the stabbing culminated a morning-long physical dispute between the two, authorities said. Miles had a black eye sustained during the altercation and other injuries that indicated she was the victim of abuse, officials said.

During a struggle on the floor of Miles' west Plant City home, Townsend was stabbed between the fourth and fifth ribs, a wound that nicked his heart, the autopsy report said.

After bandaging the wound, Miles drove Townsend to the hospital, police said.
Polk County records show Townsend was arrested Feb. 22 by Lakeland police on a charge of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a case in which Miles was the victim.

Reporter George H. Newman contributed to this report. Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or gwilkens@tampatrib.com.

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