Nitin P. Singh is accused of stabbing his wife, Seema Singh, to death in their Pennsville apartment on July 19.
SALEM -- Nitin P. Singh, the man charged with murdering his wife his wife by stabbing her more than 30 times, had his first appearance Thursday and asked for an attorney and his iPhone.
Singh, 46, allegedly killed his wife, Seema, 42, in the kitchen of their North Broadway apartment in Pennsville early on July 19.
He used a "sharp instrument," according to the complaint filed against him, to stab his wife "repeatedly in the chest and abdomen." He then called 911 for help, saying his wife was not breathing.
"I would like to get a lawyer and I would like to get the phone numbers from my iPhone so I can contact my people," Singh told Judge Guy Killen, who was presiding over Singh's hearing in Central Judicial Processing Court in Salem Thursday.
Singh appeared via video from the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington Township where he is being held on $1 million full cash bail.
Central Judicial Processing Court, or CJP Court, is now the place of first appearances for defendants charged with an indictable offense, such as murder. The suspect's appearance there is to ensure they understand the charges against them and that they have proper legal representation.
Killen reviewed the five counts against Singh.
He then noted Singh had been denied a public defender but he was going to "respectfully override" that decision.
"I want to make sure you have representation going forward because of the seriousness of the charges," Killen told Singh.
LISTEN: Accused murderer says wife not breathing
Killen said if circumstances change, Singh may hire his own attorney, but for now he needed a public defender.
Singh told the judge that "I asked for a lawyer but never got a lawyer or anybody." He also repeated his requested to get access to his cell phone.
Assistant Salem County Prosecutor Michael J. Forte said authorities are moving forward to present the case to a Salem County grand jury.
Killen set Singh's next court appearance, a pre-indictment hearing, for Oct. 4. At that time, Singh was told, his bail could be reviewed.
The Singhs lived in an apartment at the rear of a building they own at 144 North Broadways in Pennsville. Their three children -- two boys, ages 16 and 6, and a girl, age 5 -- were taken from the apartment through a side door so they did not see the crime scene in the kitchen, authorities said.
Authorities have not said what they believe sparked Singh's alleged actions.
The couple owned and operated the Quick Stop Deli in Collingswood. After Seema Singh's death, there was an outpouring of support from members of the local community who shopped there.
The deli has since been reopened by Nitin Singh's father.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.