SPENCER MAN CLAIMS HE JUST WANTED TO QUIET WIFE
Friday, October 26th, 2007 -- 8:55 AM
A man accused of murdering his wife told a jury today that he shoved a ceramic candy dish down her throat so she would shut up -- but he didn't mean to kill her.Patrick Zurkowski of Spencer also says his wife, June, attacked him with a paring knife.
The 40-year-old Zurkowski is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the March 2006 death of his wife.
An autopsy determined June Zurkowski had been beaten and suffocated after pieces of an Easter bunny-shaped plate were lodged in her throat.
Prosecutors say Zurkowski killed his wife of 3 and a half years after an argument over money.
Zurkowski testified for about two hours this afternoon and was the only defense witness called as the trial winds down.
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