Kingston Police have confirmed that the wife of the man charged with second-degree murder died as the result of a stab wound.

Sgt. Jay Finn of the major crimes unit confirmed that the man’s 60-year-old wife had been stabbed. There were witnesses to the event who then called 911.

Several officers responded to a house on Hillendale Avenue at roughly 9 a.m. on Wednesday. Frontenac Paramedics transported the woman to hospital, where she died. Officers arrested Richard Fardella, 59, who did not resist.

Finn said that a domestic incident preceded the stabbing.

“This is a tragic case, and the Kingston Police are doing their best to respect the family’s wishes in this matter,” Finn said. “(The family) went through a very tragic incident and we’re doing our best to work with them as we continue our investigation.”

Fardella appeared in bail court Wednesday on a second-degree murder charge. The charge has not been proven in court. Fardella was remanded into custody and is set to reappear in the new year.

Niece of man accused of murder speaks out

A family member of the Kingston man charged by police with second-degree murder has spoken out on Facebook.

“I appreciate all my friends that have reached out to me today,” Lesley Fardella wrote. “My family suffered something unimaginable today and as devastated as we are over the death of my aunt, please know that my amazing Uncle Rick is in his final stages of brain cancer and really has no idea of what he has done.

“For all of you that know my Uncle Rick, you know that he would never be capable of this,” Lesley wrote. “Please rather than share the article that makes this out to be a Malicious murder please share (this post), the actual truth, for the sake of my cousins who have lost their mother and are losing their father to a brutal illness and for the sake of my family. ”

At bail proceedings, the Fardella family and supporters filled a row in the public gallery of the court.

After the proceedings, one man with the family told the Whig-Standard that he had just spoken with Richard a few days ago and that he seemed fine, that this was completely out of character.

“We’re in the twilight zone.”