Woman accused of stabbing Terrelle Pryor to be released from jail

Shalaya Briston, the girlfriend of Terrelle Pryor who is accused of stabbing the professional football player, will be released from jail as she awaits a hearing on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault, a judge ordered Tuesday.

Judge Jeffrey A. Manning released Briston, 24, to her parents’ home in Munhall, put her on electronic monitoring and told her to have no contact with Pryor.

Briston has been in jail without bond since a Nov. 30 tussle at their North Side apartment. The 30-year-old Pryor, an NFL free agent who was a standout at Jeannette High School and starred at Ohio State, is charged with simple assault in the incident.

Briston’s attorney, Lee Rothman, said it may take between two and three days for Briston to be released from jail and set up on electronic monitoring.

Rothman said his client was both a defendant and a victim in this case and said what happened during the dispute will have to play out in court.

“Your honor, we’re respectfully asking you to reconsider,” Rothman asked Manning in regard to Briston’s bail.

Pryor said last week he’d like to see Briston released from jail. Prosecutor Michael Sullivan of the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office said Pryor’s attorney, Steve Colafella, has voiced no objection to her release. The district attorney’s office offered no position about whether she should be released.

“All right. The court will grant electronic monitoring with Ms. Briston,” Manning said.

Manning had previously upheld the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office request that Briston be held without bond. The judge had previously denied bond because he deemed Briston a threat to the community.

Pittsburgh police were called at 4:16 a.m. on Nov. 30 to the Heinz Lofts apartments on the North Side for a domestic dispute involving Briston and Pryor, and they found a trail of blood at the complex. Briston and two friends drove Pryor to UPMC Mercy Hospital. Colafella said his client lost 3.5 liters of blood because of the stabbing.

Preliminary hearings for the couple were initially scheduled last week, but were delayed until Thursday despite opposition from the attorneys.

Sullivan said Tuesday that he still intends to proceed with the case as charged.

Rothman questioned whether Briston acted with the intent to kill required in an attempted homicide charge. He hasn’t talked with the DA’s office about a deal to withdraw the charge, but said he’s been in general discussions with Sullivan.

“He’s still trying to gather some material to give him a full view of what this situation is,” Rothman said. “With my years of experience, I think this is going to be one of two things. It could be resolved amicably for all parties involved or it could be a jury trial.”

The couple also face a hearing Wednesday over rent their landlord claims they owe. Heinz Lofts is seeking $1,827.60 in unpaid rent plus $400 in legal fees, claiming the couple violated terms of their lease with the complex.

Rothman and Colafella have said they’re aware of the action.

“We have more pressing matters at this particular time,” Rothman said.

It’s unlikely a hearing in the case will move forward with Briston present as she will likely still be in jail, Rothman said.

Thursday’s preliminary hearing remains scheduled in Pittsburgh Municipal Court.