rockin'robin
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A Paterson man accused of choking an acquaintance to death at a party over the weekend pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a murder charge.
James Waters, who is deaf, was a guest at an apartment on Highland Avenue early Saturday morning, where several deaf people also were in attendance, police said. At some point during the party, Waters got into an altercation with another guest, Kevin Stevens, 35, said Jason Statuto, a Passaic County assistant prosecutor. After the dispute turned violent, Waters grabbed Stevens in a headlock and refused to let go despite several pleas from Stevens and other guests, Statuto said.
Stevens passed out and was rushed to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, but he did not survive, authorities said. They did not say what started the dispute.
Related: Fight leaves 1 Paterson man dead, another facing murder charges
During his arraignment Wednesday in Superior Court in Paterson, Waters’ handcuffs were removed so that he could communicate by sign language through an interpreter.
He showed no emotion throughout the brief court appearance. His attorney, Susan McCoy, entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf to a charge of one count of first-degree murder.
Judge Randal Chiocca ordered Waters to remain held at the Passaic County Jail on $1 million bail as his case awaits presentation to a grand jury for indictment.
Email: markos@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/news/man...ng-death-has-first-court-appearance-1.1378576
James Waters, who is deaf, was a guest at an apartment on Highland Avenue early Saturday morning, where several deaf people also were in attendance, police said. At some point during the party, Waters got into an altercation with another guest, Kevin Stevens, 35, said Jason Statuto, a Passaic County assistant prosecutor. After the dispute turned violent, Waters grabbed Stevens in a headlock and refused to let go despite several pleas from Stevens and other guests, Statuto said.
Stevens passed out and was rushed to St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson, but he did not survive, authorities said. They did not say what started the dispute.
Related: Fight leaves 1 Paterson man dead, another facing murder charges
During his arraignment Wednesday in Superior Court in Paterson, Waters’ handcuffs were removed so that he could communicate by sign language through an interpreter.
He showed no emotion throughout the brief court appearance. His attorney, Susan McCoy, entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf to a charge of one count of first-degree murder.
Judge Randal Chiocca ordered Waters to remain held at the Passaic County Jail on $1 million bail as his case awaits presentation to a grand jury for indictment.
Email: markos@northjersey.com
http://www.northjersey.com/news/man...ng-death-has-first-court-appearance-1.1378576
