A New Bedford man accused of stabbing his nephew to death over the weekend has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. 

Juan Padilla-Santana was ordered held without bail during a brief appearance in New Bedford District Court yesterday. 

Prosecutors say Padilla-Santana stabbed his nephew Omil Padilla-Corsino on Saturday in a New Bedford apartment. 

An attorney for Padilla-Santana says it was the nephew who started the fight, and the killing was in self defense.