Man Says He Was Asleep When He Killed Wife
PHOENIX (Reuters) - A Phoenix man who defense attorneys say
was sleepwalking when he brutally stabbed and drowned his wife claimed
Wednesday that he never would have knowingly killed his 20-year
companion and mother of his two children.
An emotional Scott Falater told jurors in Maricopa County Superior
Court in Phoenix that the two were soul mates since high school, had a
loving marriage and had pledged to be together throughout eternity.
''There was no way I could do that, not intentionally,'' said Falater,
breaking down in tears several times during his testimony. ''I loved her. I
don't know what I would do without her.''
The 43-year-old electrical engineer said his wife Yarmila meant
everything to him and that her memory still haunts him to this day. ''Some
people talk about their spouse as their right arm,'' he said. ''She was like
both my arms and legs, my head and all of my heart.''
His 90-minute testimony came as the defense wrapped up its case
against Falater, accused of lashing out at his wife with a hunting knife,
stabbing her 44 times and dragging her to the family's swimming pool
where he held her head under water.
Prosecutors charge Falater changed his bloody clothes and boots, and
stashed them in a plastic container along with the murder weapon. All the
items were placed in the wheel well of his car. Juan Martinez, an assistant
county attorney, said Falater took time to doctor a wound and motion to
the family dog to be quiet during the rampage.
Falater's testimony came in the 13th day of a much-watched trial
where the murder is not in dispute -- both sides agree that it happened.
What they differ on is Falater's state of mind at the time, and his intent to
kill.
Prosecutors call the act a deliberate, cold-blooded murder and seek
the death penalty. Defense attorneys say Falater should be set free
because he did not consciously know what he was doing at the time
because his brain was ''fast asleep.'' |
