Not-guilty plea in wife stabbing
A Roxbury man accused of killing his wife Sunday when an argument erupted into a fatal stabbing met police when they arrived and said, “I need to go to jail,” according to prosecutors.
Valdir Chaves, 43, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and assault and battery at his arraignment Monday, where he appeared in a white jumpsuit with the hood pulled up covering his face.
Police were called to Clarence Street Sunday just before 12:30 p.m. for a fight at the residence.
The 911 caller said “father stabbed step mom,” according to court records.
When police arrived, they encountered Chaves standing on the landing, facing the wall with his hands behind his back. He told police “I need to go to jail. I am ready to be arrested,” according to court documents.
Inside the house, officers found Dora Sofia Chaves in one of the bedrooms with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to the hospital where she died that night.
Prosecutor Ian Polumbaum said Chaves and his wife had an argument Saturday night and that Dora Chaves left and returned later with police to ask Valdir Chaves to leave. Valdir Chaves left and returned Sunday afternoon, when the two went into a bedroom to talk, Polumbaum said.
Witnesses told police they heard the door lock, the pair arguing, and then heard Dora Chaves screaming before Valdir Chaves exited the room with blood on his clothes.
Polumbaum said the couple has four children between the ages of 6 and 20. Several of them were inside the residence at the time, he said.
Earl Howard, an attorney for Valdir Chaves, said his client was remorseful but didn’t remember allegedly stabbing his wife and that his “emotion of what has transpired has caused him to be somewhat confused to what’s going on.”
“This is disastrous by no stretch of the imagination and his concern is his kids,” Howard said.
Chaves was convicted in 2009 for assault and battery, according to court records.
Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins, who was at the scene after Valdir Chaves’ arrest Sunday, told the Herald, “today we have a family who is deeply impacted here and I hope this means we start speaking more about domestic violence and the work we have to do to end it.”
Valdir Chaves was ordered held without bail. He will be in court next on Sept. 13 for a probable cause hearing.