Man pleads not guilty to stabbing over flatulence

[February 15, 2011]  NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) -- A Connecticut man accused of stabbing a friend to death and injuring three other people at a party because people were making fun of his flatulence has pleaded not guilty.

Marc Higgins of Bristol pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in New Britain on Monday. Police say the 21-year-old Higgins was "very drunk" at a Bristol house party last month and was ridiculed because of flatulence. Police say one woman even slapped him because of it. Police say at that point he stormed out of the party and returned about 45 minutes later with three knives and started stabbing people indiscriminately. Matthew Walton died of his wounds. Three others were injured. Higgins told police he was angry and wanted to show that people shouldn't make fun of him. ___ Information from: The Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com/ [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.