Update: A fully-updated story that includes the judge’s findings is available at this link.
The man accused of stabbing another man to death during a fight outside Richard’s Bar in West Town in February 2020 was acquitted of all charges during a bench trial in Chicago this week, Cook County court records show.
Thomas Tansey, 32, was found not guilty of two counts of first-degree murder by Judge Alfredo Maldonado on Wednesday.
Witnesses told police that the incident began when Tansey and 23-year-old Kenneth Paterimos became involved in an altercation inside the bar at 491 North Milwaukee.
Tansey, who was removed from the bar, then allegedly cut Paterimos multiple times with a box cutter after Paterimos stepped outside to smoke. Paterimos was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later at Stroger Hospital, according to the medical examiner.
But there were conflicting reports about what exactly happened, with some witnesses reporting that Paterimos went back outside intending to re-engage with Tansey.
Tansey spent about 2½ years on electronic monitoring before being acquitted.
CWBChicago will post a full update when a transcript of the judge’s decision is received.