Trial for woman accused of stabbing Mary J. Blige's dad

Trace Christenson

Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer

Cheryl White, 50, listens to her attorneys, Jeff and Kimberly Schroder, during an Aug. 11 hearing at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Battle Creek, Mich. White is accused of stabbing her boyfriend, Thomas Blige, 63, in a January attack. Blige is the father of R&B singer Mary J. Blige.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- A judge ordered a Michigan woman to stand trial on charges she stabbed the father of R&B singer Mary J. Blige during a domestic dispute.

Thomas Blige, 63, said Monday he was cut on the throat, lung and arm in the attack by Cheryl White, his estranged girlfriend.

"I was up early getting ready for school and I saw Cheryl White slashing my tires," Thomas Blige told Calhoun County District Judge Frank Line. "As I went to her she started slashing me. She said something out of anger like, 'you won't mess with me.'"

He told Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Delmont that after the 6:59 a.m. Jan. 23 attack outside a Battle Creek apartment building, he was able to run to the apartment of a friend and call for help.

White, 50, is charged with assault with intent to murder and if convicted faces up to life in prison. After hearing from Blige, Judge Line ordered the case to circuit court for trial. White remains in the county jail.

During questioning by Jeffrey Schroder, White's attorney, Blige said he was staying with his friend because he and White had been involved in a domestic dispute the day before the stabbing.

"Me and Cheryl have serious domestic problems," Blige said. "The day before we were fighting and the police were called. We have verbal fights multiple times. An enormous number of times."

Thomas Blige, 63, testifies Aug. 11, 2014, at the Calhoun County Courthouse about being stabbed outside his Battle Creek, Mich., apartment in January. Blige, the father of singer Mary J. Blige, told a judge his estranged girlfriend, Cheryl White, cut him in the throat, lung and arm after slashing his tires.

Blige said he heard the sound of air escaping from tires and when he looked out believed White was cutting tires on his vehicle.

"I saw her stabbing my tires," Blige said. "And I saw a knife when I ran up to her."

Blige denied he attempted to attack White as she fled, though he said when he reached her and she began slashing at him they fell to the ground before he got to his feet and fled.

"I didn't chase her, I approached her. I was trying to embrace her out of love. I have never harmed her; I love her and I don't like the situation she is in."

Delmont told the judge evidence from Blige was enough to send the case to trial on charges of attempted murder or assault with intent to commit great bodily harm but Schroder said Blige was not clear about his testimony of what happened that morning.

"I don't know how anyone can believe that witness," Schroder argued.

(Contributing: Associated Press)

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