Nehemiah Terry-Peterson: Manhattan man charged for stabbing his 74-year-old great uncle to death

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK CITY: A Manhattan man was charged with murder in the brutal stabbing of his uncle inside the relative’s Sugar Hill home.

Police arrested 23-year-old Nehemiah Terry-Peterson, on Friday, January 19 evening on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon over the death of Simon Beverly, his great uncle, as per Gothamist News.

Terry Peterson was arrested by police 

74-year-old Simon Beverly was found around 6 am after authorities got a 911 call to come to the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the NY Post, Terry-Peterson was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Accounts suggest that the nephew stabbed Beverly in the chest after an argument. According to police, it wasn't immediately apparent what the argument was about. At the scene, at least one knife was recovered.

On the other hand, Peterson's attorney said on Saturday, January 20 adding his uncle (Beverly) attacked him with a butcher knife and that he and his family had been “living in terror” of the 74-year-old victim.

He added that the suspect was defending himself and there is surveillance footage to prove it.

Nehemiah Terry-Peterson's defense attorney urges dismissal of case 

Elizabeth Fischer, an attorney with Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem who is representing Peterson in the case said, "Mr. Terry-Peterson and his family have been living in terror of his great uncle, going so far as to install security cameras in Mr Terry-Peterson's own bedroom."

He added, “The camera footage is clear, what happened here was not a crime committed by Mr Terry-Peterson.”

Fischer said, "Terry-Peterson had been alone in his bedroom before daybreak on Friday when Beverly 'barged in with a large butcher knife'. Mr Terry-Peterson did everything he could to avoid this tragedy."

Adding, “There is no question about what happened here and the District Attorney should immediately dismiss the case against Mr Terry-Peterson.”