Luis Cintron of Springfield denies fatal stabbing of Carlos Beslanga

Beslanga's sister shouted out "murderer" and his mother dropped to the courtroom floor wailing in grief.

file photoLuis M. Cintron

Updates a story posted Monday at 11:12 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD – The sister of Carlos E. Beslanga shouted out “murderer” and his mother dropped to the courtroom floor, wailing in grief, as Beslanga’s accused killer made his first court appearance Monday.

Six hours after surrendering to Springfield police, Luis M. Cintron, 37, pleaded not guilty in Springfield District Court to first degree murder in the May 21 death of Beslanga at 66 Cumberland Ave.

Beslanga, 32, of Newington, Conn., was visiting relatives in Springfield when he was stabbed in the heart and lung in front of his wife and children, police said.

Police said the victim was urinating in an alley when Cintron confronted him, and a brief altercation ensued. Beslanga was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center, located less than 100 yards away.

Cintron and Noemy Ramos, 33, who both lived at 66 Cumberland St., fled after Ramos hid the knife in the sewer; Ramos surrendered on May 23, and is being held in lieu of $150,000 cash bail on two counts of accessory after the fact of murder.

At Cintron’s arraignment, Judge William Boyle ordered him held without bail; defense lawyer Dale Bass said his client may seek bail in the future.

Noting that Beslanga has friends and relatives at the Hampden County House of Correction, Bass asked that his client be sent to the Hampshire County jail instead. Boyle said the request would be passed along to correctional officials.

As court officers were leading Cintron from the courtroom, Beslanga’s sister, Marianella Rizzuto, 34, of Ellington, Conn., shouted “murderer.”

Moments later, the victim’s mother, Yolanda Jarra, began weeping as family members helped her from the courtroom.

She dropped to the ground at the courtroom door, convulsed in grief, as court officers attempted to ease her through the door. By the time she was helped into a conference room, the courtroom floor was wet with tears.

Outisde, the victim’s brother in law, Philip Rizzuto, 42, of Ellington, said the family was pleased that Cintron had surrendered, and was being held without bail.

“At least he’s off the street, and won’t be able to hurt anyone else,” Rizzuto said.

Boyle set the next hearing for July 26.