June 13, 2008 – Jeremy Davis Cheiuk, 22, charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Dale Hendricks, was released on property bond following an advice-of-rights hearing Wednesday in Superior Court.
Judge Julio Brady released Cheiuk to the custody of his parents, who put up their home to secure bail that was posted at $150,000.
Based on eyewitness reports, police say Hendricks, 29, was killed about 3:58 a.m. Wednesday following a car accident with Cheiuk that escalated into a fight.
Cheiuk struck Hendricks, who fell to the ground, eyewitnesses said. One of the witnesses tried to intervene in the fight, according to police. Cheiuk continued to hit Hendricks after he was on the ground, then fled, the eyewitnesses said.
Police arrested Cheiuk the following day at 7:26 a.m. at the Estate St. John home he shares with his parents.
The accident occurred on Company Street in the vicinity of Luncheria Restaurant, according to Police Spokeswoman Melody Rames.
St. Croix Medical Examiner Michele DuPre determined that Hendricks died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, and thus found cause for Cheiuk to be charged and prosecuted for second-degree murder, Brady said at Wednesday's advice-of-rights hearing. Second-degree murder is ordinarily defined as an intentional killing that is not premeditated or planned, nor committed in a reasonable "heat of passion," or a killing caused by dangerous conduct and the offender's obvious lack of concern for human life. Second-degree murder may best be viewed as the middle ground between first-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter, according to a legal definition at Criminal.Findlaw.com.
Cheiuk was represented by attorney Rene Dowling, who recommended that he not operate a vehicle as a condition of release into the third-party custody of his parents. Brady agreed to the recommendation.
Cheiuk must now attend an arraignment hearing, normally scheduled within two weeks following the advice-of-rights hearing, at which time a trial date will be set.
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