'It Was Self-Defense,' Says Boyfriend Charged With Stabbing Death Of Girlfriend, Baby

EASTPOINTE (WWJ) -- A Macomb County man accused of murdering both his live-in girlfriend and their infant daughter claims that he was the one being attacked and that he acted in self-defense.

Curtis Hampton, 30, was in court Tuesday for a motion hearing and said that his live-in girlfriend Monique Rakowski, 29, was the one who stabbed the couple's 13-month-old daughter, Carmon, to death in February in their Eastpointe home.

Defense attorney Timothy Barkovic said that Rakowski had a history of psychological problems.

"My client is absolutely innocent," Barkovic said."She was upset for unknown reasons, came into the bedroom, stabbed the baby and my client became very upset. He was devastated at what had happened."

Several members of Rakowski's family say that Hampton was the one who was abusive.

Rakowski's cousin said the couple had been together for years and the relationship was volatile. There had been several incidents of domestic violence. "Each time it was a little worse and many people told her to leave or he's going to kill you … but she would say 'I am not afraid of him.'"

"He deserves everything he gets, anything and everything that happens to him – he deserves it."

Hampton was arraigned on murder charges in February and remains held without bond ahead of an April 30 preliminary exam hearing.