Man avoids death penalty in wife’s killing

Man avoids death penalty in wife’s killing

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — A suburban Philadelphia man has avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to fatally stabbing his wife in the parking lot of the convenience store where she worked.

James Hvizda pleaded guilty to first-degree murder on Wednesday for killing his wife, Kimberly, late on the night of March 25 outside the store in Upper Uwchlan Township, Chester County.

Investigators say Hvizda stabbed his wife multiple times and slashed her throat before turning himself in to police.

Officials say they would have pursued the death penalty at trial because the mother of four had obtained a protection from abuse order against her husband before she was killed.

Hvizda told the court he wanted to avoid the death penalty and spare his family a trial.