Binghamton University Murder Suspect Rejects Plea Deal

It looks like there will be a trial for a former Binghamton University student charged in the death of another student on campus in April.

Going against the advice of his lawyer, 20 year old Michael Roque has rejected a plea deal for the murder of freshman Joao Souza that would have sent him to prison for 20 years to life.

Roque is scheduled to stand trial September 24^th following a pre-trial hearing September 20.

If convicted in a trial, Roque could face 25 years to life in prison for second degree murder.  He remains in the Broome County Jail.

The campus community was shocked April 15^th when Souza, a 19 year old engineering student, was stabbed several times at a residential hall.  Law enforcement officers from the campus and surrounding municipal departments combed the campus for hours before Roque was found in his own dorm room and taken into custody.

The stabbing at Windham Hall came just a couple months after a school of nursing student was killed off campus allegedly at the hands another nursing student with whom she had reportedly been in a relationship at one time. 22 year old Haley Anderson was found dead in Orlando Tercero’s west side apartment and Tercero fled to his native Nicaragua.  Local and Federal officials are still working to get him returned to the U.S. to face murder charges.