New Bedford uncle pleads guilty to killing nephew during family altercation

"Juan Padilla-Santana, 43, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one charge of manslaughter for the death of his nephew, 23-year-old Omil Padilla-Corsino. He was sentenced in Fall River Superior Court to 12 ½ to 17 ½ years in prison, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said in a statement."

"On Aug. 24, 2024, New Bedford police responded to a South Street apartment, where they found Padilla-Corsino suffering from two stab wounds. He was taken to a local hospital and died from his injuries a short time later."

"Padilla-Santana was initially indicted for second-degree murder, to which he pleaded not guilty. He stabbed his nephew during an argument, which his attorney, Edward Molari, called "a case of self defense and defense of others.""

"As the argument continued, Padilla-Santana came out of a bedroom, at which point Padilla-Corsino "said something like, 'If you're going to kick me out already, I'll give you another reason'" and punched him, the police report states."

A New Bedford man pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the death of his 23-year-old nephew. Police responded on Aug. 24, 2024, to a South Street apartment where the nephew was found with two stab wounds and died shortly after arriving at a local hospital. The defendant had been indicted for second-degree murder and initially pleaded not guilty. The stabbing occurred during an argument in an apartment shared by the nephew, his girlfriend, and the girlfriend’s mother, who was dating the defendant. The girlfriend reported that the nephew felt uneasy about the defendant being in the apartment. After the mother told the nephew to leave, the nephew said he paid rent. The defendant came out of a bedroom, the nephew punched him, and the defendant stabbed him. The defendant’s attorney characterized the incident as self-defense and defense of others.

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