Former Kyle Rittenhouse attorney to defend Apple River mass stabbing suspect

Nick Ferraro, Pioneer Press
·2 min read
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Nicolae Miu, the 52-year-old charged with stabbing a Stillwater teenager to death and injuring four others during a confrontation on the Apple River in western Wisconsin, has retained an attorney who represented Kyle Rittenhouse during his self-defense case.

Miu of Prior Lake made his second appearance this week in St. Croix County Circuit Court on charges that he killed 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and also stabbed and seriously injured three men and a woman July 30 in Somerset, Wis.

Miu told investigators he acted in self defense.

Miu, who is in custody, appeared in court for a status conference by video and told Judge Michael Waterman he has retained Corey Chirafisi as his counsel.

The Madison, Wis.-based attorney was among the defense team for Rittenhouse, who last November at age 18 was acquitted of murder and other charges after killing two men and injuring a third during the civil unrest that followed a police shooting in Kenosha in 2020. Rittenhouse argued he fired his rifle in self-defense after each of the men attacked him.

Contacted Friday, Chirafisi said he plans to file a document in court early next week to represent Miu. He declined to comment on the case.

Miu was charged Monday with first-degree intentional homicide and four counts of attempted homicide. Witnesses told authorities that Miu had been bothering young women and girls tubing on the river while wearing a snorkel mask. But Miu told investigators he acted to defend himself after he was attacked while searching for a lost cellphone.

On Thursday, St. Croix County District Attorney Karl Anderson filed a bond modification motion, requesting to add a condition that Miu turn in his passport.

Judge Waterman said Friday he would not address the motion because the hearing was not intended for that purpose and Miu’s attorney was not present.

Miu remains at the St. Croix County jail on a $1 million cash bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Friday, although Waterman said it could be pushed back if Miu’s attorney is not available or prepared for it.

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