A woman accused of stabbing someone to death was seen smiling as she sat in court in view of the victim's family.
Samaria Lopez laughed and smiled as she entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in New York.
Lopez was accused of stabbing a woman to death in an attack outside Manhattan's Port Authority Bus Terminal in June 2024, the New York Post reported.
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As she entered her not guilty plea her behaviour caused severe distress to one member of the victim's family, who had to be escorted from the courtroom.
The family member, who has not been identified, could be heard to say 'that nasty f*cking b*tch', and 'that was funny... that sloppy nasty b*tch' as she was escorted out of the courtroom.
CCTV footage from the evening captured a vicious attack in which 22-year-old Jordin Walston died.
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In the footage Lopez, 22, can allegedly be seen lunging at Jordin in a scuffle on the sidewalk at about 10.15 in the evening on June 11.
The alleged attack unfolded close to the intersection of West 40th Street and Eighth Avenue.
Court documents allege that Lopez approached Jordin unprovoked and punched her.
The documents go on to say that Lopez then took out a knife and stabbed Jordin in the torso, 'puncturing her aorta and causing her to fall on the ground'.
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Jordin was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where tragically she was pronounced dead.
Lopez allegedly fled the scene, and was arrested on June 14, 2024.
Prosecutors have claimed that Lopez had tried to cover her tracks by change addresses and phone numbers.
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Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced Lopez' indictment on a charge of second-degree murder on July 8.
In a statement, Bragg said: “As alleged, Samaria Lopez brutally stabbed and took the life of Jordin Walston – a doting and beloved young mother.
“This alleged conduct has devastated Ms. Walston’s family and loved ones and my thoughts remain with them in their ongoing grief.”
During the arraignment hearing on Monday the families of Lopez and Jordin had to be forced to sit in different parts of the courtroom.
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The decision came after the victim's family claimed that Lopez' family had refused to move to give them space in the court.
If convicted of the charge Lopez could face life in prison. Her next court appearance has been set for October 22.
Kit Roberts