Friday, August 31, 2012

North Platte, NB: North Platte man sentenced in wife's death

NORTH PLATTE — Rogelio Diaz, 35, was sentenced Monday to 18 to 36 years in prison for attempted second-degree murder in the death of his wife, Michelle Diaz.

Diaz was given credit for 426 days already spent in jail.

Lincoln County District Judge Donald Rowlands handed down the ruling in front of Michelle Diaz's teary-eyed friends and family members.

Michelle was found unresponsive at the couple's home on June 25, 2011. County Attorney Rebecca Harling said in previous hearings that Rogelio Diaz originally told investigators that his wife fainted because of the heat.

Later, he claimed that the couple had fallen off their porch and he had landed on top of her. Eventually, he admitted that he and Michelle had been fighting and he had thrown her off the porch.

Diaz initially was charged with second-degree murder. He pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree murder on July 16, after reaching an agreement with prosecutors.

No comments: