Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – A Chester County judge sentenced Nydira Smith, a woman from East Mount Airy who fatally stabbed a Lincoln University student during a dormitory altercation, to three to six years in prison on Monday. Smith was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and simple assault by a jury in October for her involvement in the death of 21-year-old Jawine Evans. The incident occurred when Smith armed herself with a steak knife and intervened in a fight between college students, resulting in the fatal stabbing of Evans and injuries to two others.
Deputy District Attorney Bridget Gallagher emphasized the gravity of Smith’s actions, stating that one person lost their life and two others will never be the same due to her intentional involvement in the altercation. Prosecutors had originally sought a much longer prison sentence for Smith, urging the judge to consider a term of 20 to 57 years behind bars.
The altercation that led to the tragic outcome began when Smith received a distress call from her brother, Malik Stevens, a senior at Lincoln University, who informed her that he was being attacked by a group of students accusing him of theft. Smith arrived at her brother’s dorm to find him confronted by a group of students, including Evans, Clifton Walker, and Eric Dickerson. A physical altercation ensued in which Smith felt compelled to defend herself with a steak knife she had brought from her home. Unfortunately, Evans suffered a fatal wound to an artery in his neck and passed away at the scene, while Walker and Dickerson sustained minor stab wounds.
During the court proceedings, Beverly Evans, the mother of Jawine Evans, expressed her devastation over the loss of her son and the impact of Smith’s actions on their family. Meanwhile, Smith’s defense attorney, Gregory Pagano, painted a picture of his client as a protective older sister who acted out of fear for her and her brother’s safety. Pagano presented character witnesses and letters attesting to Smith’s positive contributions to the community, describing her as a compassionate individual who devoted her time to helping those in need.
In a heartfelt statement to the court, Smith expressed remorse for the outcome of the altercation and the pain it caused to Evans’ family. She highlighted her own experiences with gun violence within her family and emphasized her desire to be viewed as a decent person who strives to do what is right. Despite the tragic events that unfolded, Smith maintained that she is a peaceful individual who deeply regrets the loss of life that occurred that night in the dormitory.