Man pleads not guilty in wife’s fatal stabbing

A 41-year-old man charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of his 42-year-old wife at their Makiki apartment pleaded not guilty Friday.

Marcelo Carcamo-Lopez, also known as Marcelo Carcamo Lopez and Marcelo Carcamo, appeared in Honolulu District Court before Judge Russel Nagata with his wrists and ankles shackled. He was charged Thursday with second-­degree murder in Meriam Carcamo’s death.

Deputy Public Defender Bryant Zane entered the not-guilty plea on Carcamo-­Lopez’s behalf. Bail was confirmed at $1 million, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

The fatal stabbing occurred Tuesday night at Unit 605 at Pacificana Apartments, 1125 Young St., where Carcamo-Lopez lived with his wife and her teenage son from a previous relationship.

Police said an argument between the couple escalated, and, using a knife, he allegedly stabbed her before fleeing.

At about 10:50 p.m., Meriam Carcamo’s son, Mark Rizan, 16, was asleep in the living room when he heard loud pounding coming from the bedroom. Immediately after, he heard someone crying and a “slapping noise,” according to a court document.

Police said Carcamo-­Lopez walked out of the bedroom carrying a silver-­colored knife. He walked from the bedroom to the kitchen several times, appearing to wash his hands before he left the apartment, according to the court document.

Rizan then bolted the front door and walked to the bedroom, which was locked. He called out to his mother, but there was no answer, the court document said.

Police said Rizan broke the door open and found Carcamo lying on the floor unresponsive with a stab wound to her stomach. He called 911 and began CPR on his mother.

Emergency Medical Services personnel arrived and transported her in critical condition to The Queen’s Medical Center, where she died.

Police arrested Carcamo- Lopez at the apartment building as he was about to drive into the parking garage in his sedan at about 11:15 p.m. While he was in custody, he allegedly told a police officer he stabbed his wife after she punched him in the face.