By Naeisha Rose
A Jamaica man who spotted his wife with another man was convicted of murder March 22 by a jury of his peers for fatally stabbing an unrelated individual four times in Hollis, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
On the morning of April 19, 2015, Williams Hidalgo saw his wife with another man and tried to confront him, but the individual decided to leave La Nueva Chapparrita, a Mexican restaurant and bar located at 184-13 Jamaica Ave. without incident, according to Brown.
Still filled with rage, Hidalgo later decided to attack a second man, Otto Ajpacaja, a stranger who had nothing to do with his wife but was simply leaving the bar to hail a taxi at 4:25 a.m., according to trial testimony.
“This was a senseless act of violence fueled by misguided rage and absurdity,” Brown said.
Hidalgo targeted Ajpacaja, then followed the 39-year-old man and stabbed him in the upper thigh, according to Brown.
Ajpacaja tried to run but was chased by Hidalgo, who later stabbed him some more in the chest and back, according to Brown.
“The defendant in this case attacked a stranger because he wanted to fight someone – anyone,” said Brown.
Ajpacaja was later sent to Jamaica Hospital, where he died due to a severed femoral artery in his leg, according to staff at the medical center.
Hidalgo now faces 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His sentencing will be April 3.
“The defendant now faces a very long term of incarceration for this heinous and pointless killing,” said the district attorney.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
