EASTHAMPTON — Police responded to a bloody scene early Sunday where they said a city man — who’s currently held without bail — brutally assaulted his estranged wife’s lover.
Abdelaziz Afoulous, 33, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Northampton District Court to charges of assault to kill, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a family or household member, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
He’s expected back in court Friday where a judge will decide whether bail can be set.
Police said Afoulous arrived at the Kenneth Road home of his wife, from whom he has been separated for three months, to check on his young son around 4:40 a.m. The woman’s brother, Youssef El-Ghorfi, answered the door when Afoulous arrived.
Police said Afoulous then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and went to the basement, where he found his estranged wife in bed with a man she described as her boyfriend. The woman used a cover from a pot as protection, according to the report.
The man in bed made a break for the stairs, but was seized by Afoulous by the time he reached the kitchen and living room area, police said. Afoulos wrestled the man to the ground and kicked him multiple times in the stomach and head, causing him to convulse and lose consciousness, the woman told police.
Officers who responded to the call noted trails of blood on the kitchen and living room floors and found the man who’d allegedly been beaten inside a bathroom. He had multiple lacerations to the face and head and was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
The woman also told police the young boy may have witnessed the alleged assault.
Subsequently, police notified the Department of Children and Families.
When police spoke with Afoulous the evening of the alleged attack, he denied ever hurting the injured man, authorities said. Police also noted blood stains on the top and bottom of his sneakers, according to the report.
Michael Majchrowicz can be reached at mmajchrowicz@gazettenet.com.