UPDATED Saturday, June 27, 2009 --- 6:55 p.m.

Family members of victim Thomas Kratz say a memorial service will be held on Friday, July 3, from 12 - 10 p.m. at Friendship Park in Friendship, Wis.

They ask anyone who comes to bring a dish to pass.
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UPDATED: Thursday, June 25, 2009 --- 8:40 p.m.
REPORTER: Chris Woodard

A man accused of fatally stabbing another man in Pardeeville says he did it in self-defense.

New information tonight shows claims of domestic abuse and a relationship gone wrong are providing two very different sides to this story.

Accused murderer James Henke was silent as he appeared in Columbia County Court through a video monitor Thursday but according to a criminal complaint he had already done a lot of talking.

In Court District Attorney Jane Kohlwey said, "This defendant appears to have very rapidly become more aggressive and more dangerous."

According to a criminal complaint released Thursday by Columbia County Courts Henke's former girlfriend Laurie Renwick told investigators just days before Tuesday morning's fight, he strangled her and picked her up and threw her across a room.

It's a claim Henke denies but one that may have led to Henke's fight with Renwick's new boyfriend Thomas Kratz.

Henke's public defender says, "I think it's clear that there are factual issues here that may shed some light on what the appropriate charge will ultimately be and whether this was a case of self defense."

Henke claims Monday night Kratz called him and threatened to beat him up. The two eventually fought in front of Henke's apartment.

Henke says Kratz hit him with a pipe and he threw a knife in Kratz's direction while he was trying to protect himself.

But while fighting for his life in an emergency room hospital bed Kratz told investigators he never hit Henke. He did admit to having a pipe.

Kohlwey says, "We believe that he, as stated in the complaint, brought a knife to the fight, used that knife in the fight and stabbed another person in the chest and caused his death, he intended the death at the time that he stabbed that person."

Much of the argument about what Henke's cash bail should be set at centered on the several times in the last two months Henke failed to appear in court for driving after revocation charges.

That cash bail was set at 175 thousand dollars.

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UPDATED Thursday, June 25, 2009 --- 3:45 p.m.

From NBC15's Chris Woodard:

The initial appearance for murder suspect James Henke in Columbia County Court just wrapped up.

He was given $175,000 cash bail.

The defense is saying prosecutors have a flimsy case. They say there's no proof that Henke attacked Laurie Renwick in his apartment, and they question why she did not report the June 19th alleged assault until the time of the murder, days later. Also, the defense is maintaining that Henke acted in self-defense.

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UPDATED Thursday, June 25, 2009 --- 2:00 p.m.

From NBC15's Chris Woodard:

The charges against James Henke:
1 - 1st Degree Intentional Homicide with Use of Dangerous Weapon
2 - Obstruction of An Officer
3 - Possession of Switchblade
4 - Possession of Switchblade
5 - Misdemeanor Battery, Domestic Abuse
6 - Strangulation and Suffocation, Domestic Abuse
7 - False Imprisonment, Domestic Abuse
8 - Disorderly Conduct, Domestic Abuse

From the criminal complaint:
According to Laurie Renwick, on Friday, June 19th she was at Henke's apartment when he threw her across the kitchen, choked her, and didn't let her leave.

But Henke says he didn't hit her, and the reason he wouldn't let her leave is because she was drunk.

On the night/early morning of June 22/23 when the murder happened, Henke was drinking at a Pardeeville bar when he called Renwick's cell phone. At that time, Thomas Kratz answered the woman's phone and told Henke he was going to beat him up.

After initially lying to investigators, Henke eventually admitted to going to his apartment and grabbing a "Mexican twist knife" from his knife collection. He then waited outside his apartment for Renwick and Kratz to arrive at his place for the fight. Henke claims Kratz came in his truck and approached Henke, hitting him with a pipe. They fought, and Henke says he threw the knife, not intending to strike Kratz, but it did, and then he realized he had "f--- up."

Henke is claiming self defense, again claiming he only "threw" the knife and didn't intend to hit Kratz, although the complaint says "Mr. Kratz died as a result of a stab wound approx 6-7 inches deep through his chest wall."

A deputy talked to Kratz as he was fighting for his life in the Emergency Room, and asked Kratz if it was Henke who had stabbed him. Thomas said yes.

Cause of death is stabbing

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UPDATED Thursday, June 25, 2009 --- 8:00 a.m.

Press Release from the Columbia County District Attorney:

At this time, it is anticipated that on Thursday, June 25, 2009, a Criminal Complaint will be filed by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office against James J. Henke, DOB 10/28/1962, in connection with the June 23, 2009 death of Thomas Gordon Kratz, DOB 03/26/1966. Mr. Henke will be charged with 1st degree intentional homicide and several other charges.

Mr. Henke is expected to appear in Columbia County Circuit Court Criminal Intake at 2 p.m. on June 25, 2009. In addition to the homicide case, Mr. Henke will be making his initial appearance on 5 outstanding operating after revocation cases (these are not related to the homicide matter).

The District Attorney’s Office will not be making any further statements concerning this case prior to the 2 pm hearing. The District Attorney will be available for questions after the hearing. Copies of the criminal complaint can be obtained as public records from the Columbia County Clerk of Courts Office after the complaint is filed. It is anticipated that the complaint will be filed late this morning.

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UPDATED Tuesday, June 23, 2009 -- 5:14 pm
By Zac Schultz

Pardeeville: A bartime fight leads to a fatal stabbing. The fight started just before bartime on North Main Street in Pardeeville.

Police say Jim Henke stabbed 43 year old Thomas Kratz of Montello. Henke's girlfriend was there as well.

"All three individuals knew each other," says Lt. Roger Brandner, of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. "This was not a random or stranger type of attack."

One witness who didn't want to be identified says the fight happened outside a bar. After Kratz was stabbed he ran across the street and laid down by his truck. The witness applied pressure to his chest wound until paramedics arrived. She says Kratz repeatedly told her he knew he was going to die.

Kratz died four hours later a the hospital.

By then 46 year old Jim Henke was in jail, arrested on outstanding traffic warrants, awaiting charges related to the stabbing.

The woman at the scene is 44 year old Laurie Renwick. She was arrested on charges of obstructing police.

Investigators say Henke surrendered peacefully. "He was cooperative with local law enforcement. He did not flee. He was waiting here when they arrived," says Lt. Brandner.

Jim Henke is a well-known character on Pardeeville's Main Street. He is known as Cyclops, or Cy, because he only has one eye.

Bill Baker owns Wild Bill's Saloon, which was closed during the incident. He says Henke has come into his bar in the past, but usually just drinks soda. "I've never seen him beat anybody up or be mean to anybody."

Annamarie Iraha is Henke's landlady and runs a beauty parlor underneath his apartment. "He told me he was just a dirty old biker, but he was harmless."

She knew he had a knife collection, but didn't think he was dangerous. "He's always been kind and helpful and a little scary when I first met him but then after I got to know him he was always really nice."

Investigators believe they found the murder weapon on the roof of Henke's apartment.

"I just can't believe he would do that," says Annamarie. "I just can't believe it."

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UPDATED Tuesday, June 23, 2009 --- 3:30 p.m.

Columbia County Sheriff Dennis Richards identified the murder victim as Thomas G. Kratz, 43, of Montello.

He says officers retrieved the weapon believed to have been used in the alleged murder during a search of Jim "Cy" Henke's apartment.

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UPDATED Tuesday, June 23, 2009 --- 12:48 p.m.

NBC 15's Zac Schultz spoke with several people in Pardeeville today.

A witness who knows the people involved said the murder victim's name is Tom. The witness says she left a bar early this morning and saw him lying on the ground next to his truck with a deep stab wound in his chest.

She said she held him, putting pressure on the wound until paramedics could arrive, and Tom told her "I'm going to die."

Multiple people Schultz spoke with are telling us that the person of interest in the case is named Jim Henke, but he goes by the nickname "Cyclops" or "Cy" because he wears a patch over one eye.

People who know "Cy" describe him as a gentle giant who wouldn't hurt a fly.

At this hour, investigators are searching Henke's apartment for evidence in the case.

NBC 15 cameras also caught Henke being escorted into the Sheriff's department for questioning.

Some witnesses in Pardeeville indicate the fight between "Tom" and "Cy" may have been over a woman, but those statements have yet to be confirmed by investigators.

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UPDATED Tuesday, June 23, 2009 --- 10:47 a.m.

From Columbia County Sheriff's Department:

On June 23, 2009 at 1:50 a.m., the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call requesting assistance for a man that had been injured in a fight on N. Main Street in the Village of Pardeeville.

The injured male was transported to Divine Savior Hospital in Portage. At 5:40 a.m. the victim was pronounced deceased at Divine Savior Hospital.

An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of death. The name of the deceased is not being released at this time pending the notification of family.

A person of interest to this investigation was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants.

There is no known threat to the community at this time. The case remains under investigation by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office, Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office. All further media releases will be made by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.

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Posted Tuesday, June 23, 2009 --- 8:40 a.m.

Breaking News in Columbia County.

Deputies are at the scene of a murder investigation in Pardeeville. It is located at 128 N. Main Street/Highway 22.

An official with the Columbia County Sheriff's Department says a relationship conflict involving 2 males and 1 female ended in death.

We've only been told that one person died at 5:30 a.m. at Portage Hospital, and that 1 person is in custody. We have not been told the identities of those involved.

Stay with NBC15 and NBC15.com for continuing coverage. We'll update this story throughout the day.