Ex-carnival worker gets 25 years in 2008 St. Charles stabbing
A former carnival worker was sentenced to 25 years in prison Wednesday for the 2008 stabbing death of Naromi Mannery, 28, in St. Charles.
Arthur Manning, 63, was convicted of Mannery's death in 2009, but an appellate court reversed it.
Manning, who told police in a taped statement that Mannery called him a racial slur and threw the first punch, was convicted again last December and faced up to 60 years in prison from Judge Susan Clancy Boles Wednesday.
According to prosecutors and trial testimony, Manning and three other carnival workers were drinking Sept. 21, 2008, at a house on the 900 block of Main Street in St. Charles.
The men drank with Mannery, who wanted to come inside the home owned by Windy City Amusements, and only carnival workers were allowed inside the home.
Prosecutors argued that Mannery was struck with a chair and stabbed in the back, chest and arm after he refused to leave.
Manning told police in a recorded interview that he "lost it" after Mannery threw the first punch and called him a racial slur.
"I stabbed him because I was angry," Manning said. "It was uncalled for. All he had to do was get off those steps and walk away. He hit me and I'm supposed to walk away from him?"
Three other men pleaded guilty to their roles in Mannery's death and served sentences ranging from 180 days in jail to eight years in prison, which was halved for good behavior.
Manning was sentenced to 29 years in prison in June 2009 by the now-retired Judge Timothy Sheldon.
An appellate court overturned the guilty verdict, saying Manning was not allowed to cite self-defense during the case.
Manning must serve 100 percent of his sentence, which will end when he is 82. He gets credit for the last five years and seven months spent in jail or prison.