By Naeisha Rose
A Jamaica man was sentenced Tuesday in the 2015 murder of an innocent third-party in Hollis, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.
Williams Hidalgo, 23, received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison in connection with the murder of Otto Ajpacaja, 39, a man who left a bar in the early morning of April 19, 2015, trying to catch a taxi, according to trial testimony.
Hidalgo was convicted in March on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon at a trial presided by Supreme Court Judge Richard Buchter, according to Brown.
“As punishment for this craven act, the defendant has now been sentenced and will be incarcerated for a very long time,” said Brown.
On April 19, 2015, Hidalgo was outside the La Nueva Chapparrita, a Mexican restaurant and bar located at 184-13 Jamaica Ave., and spotted his wife out with another man, according to trial testimony. The defendant wanted to fight the individual accompanying her; however, he left without incident.
Still filled with rage, Hidalgo later attacked another man who left the bar at 4:25 a.m. who was trying to get a taxi, according to the trial testimony. The victim, was a complete stranger who had nothing to do with the defendant’s wife.
Hidalgo came at Ajpacaja with a knife and stabbed him in the upper thigh, according to the testimony.
“The victim in this case was the innocent target of the defendant’s misplaced rage,” said Brown.
Terrified, the victim attempted to runaway from the defendant, but Hildago chased him and later stabbed Ajpacaja in the chest and back, according to the testimony.
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.
“In an unprovoked attack, the defendant fatally stabbed the victim in the leg, back and chest. The blade severed an artery and the man died,” said Brown. “This was a senseless act of violence fueled by misguided rage and absurdity.”
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by e-mail at nrose
