RI man answers to murder charge in Mass.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) - A Rhode Island man charged with the murder of his girlfriend has been ordered held without bail after a court appearance in Massachusetts.

David Sousa pleaded not guilty to a murder charge at his arraignment on Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court.

The 54-year-old Warren, R.I., man was returned to Massachusetts on Monday after being held in Rhode Island since October on a probation violation.

Prosecutors allege that Sousa strangled Lisa Mello in her Swansea home in November 2012.

The Herald News of Fall River (http://bit.ly/1k5AKVJ ) reported that relatives of Mello were in court for Sousa's brief court appearance.

A June 30 pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Sousa.

His lawyer, John Amabile, could also choose to seek bail for his client at a later date.

Cox Media Group