Nikeya S. Barker, of Brentwood, pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing of Shurvell Rush

A Brentwood woman charged with second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a homeless man suffered injuries to her hands and back that indicate she acted in self-defense during the encounter, her attorney said during an emotional arraignment Wednesday in Central Islip.

Defense attorney Robert Macedonio told Newsday after the hearing that stabbing victim Shurvell Rush, 47, had previously assaulted defendant Nikeya S. Barker, his former girlfriend, and that there were "allegations" he had sexually abused one of her family members.

"It’s a tragedy, no matter how you look at it, but there is a long history between these two parties," Macedonio said.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said she could not comment on the allegations of abuse and assault.

Macedonio entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Barker, 44, during a hearing attended by about a dozen of the defendant’s relatives and supporters.

Suffolk District Judge John B. Zollo ordered Barker without bail.

Barker’s family members shouted, "We love you!" as court officers led her away after the arraignment and wailed as they exited Zollo’s courtroom.

Some expressed anger that Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Michelle Chiuchiolo did not discuss a possible motive for the stabbing during the arraignment.

Suffolk police said Rush was "undomiciled." He had been arrested at least 15 times, according to court records. He pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted assault in 1998 and was found guilty of third-degree assault by a jury in 2013. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance on April 8 and was awaiting sentencing when he was fatally stabbed, court records indicate.

Chiuchiolo told Zollo that Rush was Barker’s former boyfriend, and that she had confronted him Saturday evening after spotting him near the Long Island Rail Road station in Bay Shore.

Barker followed Rush into the station, the prosecutor said. Rush exited the station and walked toward a town house complex. Barker followed, pulled out what the prosecutor called "an extremely large knife" and stabbed Rush in the chest.

Rush was taken to South Shore University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:56 p.m., Chiuchiolo said.

There were witnesses to the stabbing, which was also recorded on surveillance video from nearby homes and businesses, Chiuchiolo said. Barker was seen throwing the bloody knife into bushes at the town house complex, according to the prosecutor, who said the weapon was later recovered by Suffolk police.

Barker, a mother of two, faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Zollo ordered her to return to court May 12.

Macedonio said he has not yet seen surveillance video that Chiuchiolo discussed during the arraignment. "Once we do that, we will be able to thoroughly investigate the facts and circumstances," he said.