2006 Media Releases:

CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
JAMES P. LYNCH, ACTING CAMDEN COUNTY PROSECUTOR
MEDIA INFORMATION

June 5, 2006

Acting Camden County Prosecutor James P. Lynch and Camden Police Executive Robert L. Stewart reported that a city man was charged with Murder today, accused of stabbing another man to death last night in Camden, N.J.

Onesimo Aquino, 38, of North 8th Street in Camden, is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail. An arraignment before Superior Court Judge Linda G. Baxter, Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division in Camden, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 6, at 3 p.m. in Courtroom 33 of the Camden County Hall of Justice, 5th Street & Mickle Boulevard, Camden.

Aquino is charged with killing Anibal Maldonado, of Camden, at approximately 8:47 p.m. last night in the area of 29th & Pierce Streets, near Von Nieda Park in the city’s Cramer Hill section. The victim is believed to be in his 20s.

Camden Police responded to the report of a fight at 29th & Pierce and arrived to find the victim lying in the street, bleeding from the chest. Maldonado was transported to Cooper University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:06 p.m. An autopsy determined the victim died from stab wounds to the chest and stomach.

Investigation indicates that a large group of people was socializing in the park when an argument began, apparently over a parked car that was blocked in by another parked car. The dispute escalated into a fight among several men. It is alleged that during the fight, Aquino stabbed Maldonado twice, then got into a green sport utility vehicle and fled the scene.

Investigation also indicates that Aquino drove the SUV over Maldonado as the victim lay in the street. However, Maldonado suffered no injuries besides the two stab wounds, the autopsy determined.

Detectives located the vehicle a short time later parked at a residence in the 300 block of Erie Street in North Camden and found the defendant inside the home, where a relative resides. The alleged murder weapon, a four-inch folding knife, was also recovered in the home.

All persons charged with criminal offenses are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.