(COLDWATER) - A Coldwater man has pleaded not guilty to an open murder charge in the fatal stabbing of Brandon Eduardo Vasquez-Chavez.
20-year-old Valmir Djempsley is charged in connection with the June 29 stabbing at Clemons Meat Processing Plant on Newton Road in Coldwater.
Coldwater police responded to a reported stabbing shortly after 7:41 p.m. Vasquez-Chavez was found unresponsive with a single stab wound to his lower back. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:19 p.m.
Djempsley was detained after witnesses identified him as the suspect.
Multiple witnesses told investigators Djempsley and Vasquez-Chavez had been involved in a verbal argument moments before the stabbing. Witnesses reported seeing Djempsley confront the victim about a knife, then chase him and lunge toward his back with the weapon in a production area of the plant.
In a post-Miranda interview with translation assistance, Djempsley admitted to the argument over the knife and acknowledged swinging the weapon at the victim after claiming he had been head-butted. No witnesses corroborated the head-butt allegation prior to the stabbing.
Police recovered the knife believed to have been used in the assault.
Djempsley appeared in court Wednesday and entered a not guilty plea. Bond was denied due to public safety concerns and flight risk. The judge in the case also noted Djempsley has an immigration detainer.
He is scheduled for a preliminary examination July 10 at 9:30 a.m. Open murder carries a possible life sentence under Michigan law. Djempsley remains in custody at the Branch County Jail.