SPRINGFIELD — The lawyer for a city man accused of stabbing another man to death in Holyoke last July is saying his client acted in self-defense after he pleaded not guilty in Hampden Superior Court to the murder on Thursday.

Samuel Rosario-Calderon, 26, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Miguel DeJesus, 26, of Holyoke, on the night of July 19, 2019, according to his attorney, Brian E. Murphy. He also pleaded not guilty to an assault and battery charge alleging he had attacked Rosa Pagan, DeJesus’ mother, on the very same day, Murphy said.

According to court documents, Holyoke police were advised of a stabbing with a serious injury around 11 p.m. at 660 S. Bridge St. Officers responded to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield where DeJesus was in surgery; he later died at 12:46 a.m. from three stab wounds and a slash to his left wrist.

Officers took statements from DeJesus’ girlfriend and Pagan who told them there was a dispute between Rosario-Calderon and DeJesus, when Rosario-Calderon stabbed DeJesus. They told officers that Rosario-Calderon had run from the scene down an alley and that he was having a child with Maria DeJesus, the stabbing victim’s sister.

Rosario-Calderon was later found at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and brought to the Connecticut State Police Bradley Airport Barracks where he was interviewed by police. 

According to the police report, Rosario-Calderon allegedly said he was planning on flying to Seattle where “he had family that could help him.” Rosario-Calderon allegedly told police that he and Miguel DeJesus had a fist-fight before admitting that he stabbed him.

Maria DeJesus was later interviewed by police and allegedly told officers that she had thrown the knife Rosario-Calderon used on an on-ramp, which was later recovered. Police also interviewed witnesses at the scene.

Murphy claims there was a family dispute between Rosario-Calderon and Miguel DeJesus about a car, at which point Miguel ended up attacking Rosario-Calderon while he was inside of the car.

“In an effort to defend himself … he grabbed a knife on the ground and in the resulting struggle stabbed him,” Murphy said. “This is a very clear cut self-defense case.”

Rosario-Calderon is due back in court on May 15 for a pre-trial hearing.

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com. ]]>