Another Poker Cheat Murder! Wow!..That's 3 in the Last Year!

Source: theday.com

Wendy Georges, accused of fatally stabbing a 23-year-old Norwich man on Dec. 14 during a poker game, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree manslaughter and has been assigned an attorney.

Georges, 29, of 69 Mechanic St., Norwich, was arrested within hours of the death of John Stevens Fleurimond and has been held in lieu of $1 million bond. On Monday, he made his first appearance in the New London Superior Court, where major crimes are tried.

Judge Patrick J. Clifford appointed Bruce A. Sturman, the area's chief public defender, to represent Georges and continued the case to Jan. 18. Georges, who is Haitian, was assisted by an interpreter during the proceeding.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit in the case, Georges, who is also known as "Poshawn," was playing poker with Fleurimond and several others at Fleurimond's basement apartment at 461 Boswell Ave.

Georges told police he suspected Fleurimond of cheating and grabbed him by the throat. He said Fleurimond produced a knife and slashed him and that others pulled the two men apart. He said he was able to gain possession of the knife and that he stabbed Fleurimond in the back.

Georges said he fled the residence and ran until he ended up in Jewett City. He was arrested several hours later at his apartment, where police noticed he had a small cut and dried blood on his palm. During an interview with police, he cried and said, "Those guys jumped me. I was defending myself."