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."
