A New York City man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend more than 20 times appeared distraught in court as he lashed out at a photographer snapping his picture.
asserted
he → stab → picture
Candido Rodriguez entered a Manhattan courtroom handcuffed on Tuesday afternoon in darkened glasses and a beanie as he faces charges over the death of Melanie Woods, 33.
asserted
he → enter → Woods
Rodriguez, who previously broke down in tears as he was arraigned in court, interrupted the courtroom during proceedings as he protested having his photograph taken.
asserted
photograph → break → proceedings
After staring directly into the camera lens, Rodriguez turned to three court officers stood behind him to protest the photographer.
asserted
Rodriguez → star → photographer
As he was repeatedly directed to turn back around and face the judge, he continued to argue before Judge Ann Scherzer interrupted to ask about the disturbance.
asserted
Scherzer → direct → disturbance
'Well, this is an open court,' she said, before asking the photographer to stop taking pictures of the defendant.
asserted
she → say → defendant
Rodriguez appeared in court from the psychiatric ward as he awaits an evaluation prior to trial, as his legal team discussed potentially making a plea deal.
asserted
team → appear → deal
He faces charges of first-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon in relation to Woods's death.
asserted
He → face → death
Candido Rodriguez entered a Manhattan courtroom handcuffed on Tuesday afternoon in darkened glasses and a beanie as he faces charges over the death of Melanie Woods, 33
Woods was found dead in April 2024 with over 20 stab wounds across her torso and legs and her neck slashed.
asserted
Woods → enter → torso
Prosecutors alleged Woods returned from walking her dog in the early hours of April 23 after Rodriguez had sent a series of one-sided angry and hostile messages
Rodriguez, who previously broke down in tears as he was arraigned in court, interrupted the courtroom as he turned to court officers stood behind him to protest the photographer
Woods was found dead in April 2024 with over 20 stab wounds across her torso and legs and her neck slashed.
asserted
Woods → allege → torso
Prosecutors alleged that Woods had returned from walking her dog in the early hours of April 23 after Rodriguez had sent a series of one-sided angry and hostile messages.
asserted
Rodriguez → allege → messages
He was allegedly waiting for her in her Harlem apartment when she arrived home at around 7am as neighbors heard shouting, crashes and screams.
uncertain
neighbors → wait → shouting
The pair were in an on-off relationship and Woods had previously asked him not to contact her anymore, prosecutors previously said.
asserted
prosecutors → ask → her
'Around 8am, the noise stopped,' Assistant Manhattan District Attorney Marcella Lupski said at his arraignment.
asserted
Lupski → stop → arraignment
'A neighbor heard the door shut and footsteps going down the stairs,' the prosecutor continued.
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prosecutor → hear → stairs
'The defendant brutally murdered his ex-girlfriend and left her in the bathtub of her apartment.'
She added that Rodriguez was seen on video leaving the building and hailing a cab at around 8.05am.
asserted
Rodriguez → murder → 8.05am
As he was repeatedly directed to turn back around and face the judge, he continued to argue before Judge Ann Scherzer said it was an 'open court' before asking no more photos be taken
The pair were in an on-off relationship and Woods had previously asked him not to contact her anymore
asserted
Woods → direct → her
Rodriguez's defense attorney asked for him to receive immediate medical treatment at his arraignment.
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him → ask → arraignment
The judge agreed to put him on suicide watch as he was seen 'incredibly distraught'
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he → agree → watch
Woods was later discovered when her friends grew concerned and asked for a wellness check from the New York City Police Department.
asserted
friends → discover → Department
Rodriguez's defense attorney asked for him to receive immediate medical treatment at his arraignment.
asserted
him → ask → arraignment
The judge agreed to put him on suicide watch as he was seen 'incredibly distraught.'
asserted
he → agree → watch
He wailed as he was brought into the courtroom and was inconsolable while his case was heard.
asserted
case → wail → courtroom
Woods was scheduled to go to California but did not make the flight, which concerned her mother and her friend who tracked her phone’s location to her apartment.
asserted
who → schedule → apartment
She was described as a loving dog owner who traveled, enjoyed adventure and was ‘always rooted for the underdog’.
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who → describe → underdog
‘To know Melanie was to love her,’ her family wrote on a GoFundMe.
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family → know → GoFundMe
‘She was a vibrant soul who brought out the best in anyone around her, this we will never forget.’
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we → bring → this
They sought funds to be able to bring her home to California.
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They → seek → California
‘It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who had a big impact on our lives,’ her family added.
asserted
family → ’ → lives
Woods was scheduled to go to California but did not make the flight, which concerned her mother and her friend who tracked her phone’s location to her apartment
‘
asserted
who → schedule → apartment
It’s always hard to lose someone you know, to let go of Melanie, and move on.
asserted
you → ’ → Melanie
But if we keep those good memories in our hearts and minds, we can find comfort and Melanie will always be with us.
asserted
Melanie → keep → us
We love you so much.’
asserted
We → love → you
Rodriguez is expected to return to court on December 1.
asserted
Rodriguez → expect → December
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