Man Accused In Maplewood Killing Of Comedy Club Owner, Au Pair Pleads Not Guilty
MAPLEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - A New Jersey man charged in the double murder appeared in court Wednesday.
Police say 27-year-old Joseph Porter is accused of stabbing his 26-year-old girlfriend - a nanny - along with the man she worked for.
Web Extra: Joseph Porter Appears In Court
Porter was escorted into the room in handcuffs, and stood before the judge for his first court appearance with a translator by his side.
His defense attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.
Porrter faces two counts of murder, weapons charges and criminal restraint. He is charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez on August 3, shortly after she broke up with thim.
He allegedly entered her the family home of David Kimowitz, her boss, using a key she gave him. Porter allegedly stabbed Kimowitz, 40, to death. Prosecutors say porter first killed 40-year-old David Kimowitz before chasing Bermudez-Rodriguez outside and killing her.
Kimowitz was the owner of the popular Gramercy Park comedy club The Stand. He's described as a loving father and husband who moved his family of four to the suburbs two years ago.
"I feel for the mother. She's lost her husband. She's dealing with these two itty bitty children, and she'll have to explain why daddy isn't around. So that's pretty sad," said neighbor Kathy Cantwell.
Prosecutors say Porter has made statements acknowledging picking up the knife to attack Bermudez-Rodriguez, and they say Porter tried to fly to Mexico after the killings.
He was arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport a day after the double homicides and will remain detained at the Essex County Correctional Facility.
