Man Could Get Life in Prison for Wife's Murder

A northern New Jersey man could face a life sentence after he was convicted in the stabbing death of his wife.

The Record reports Pedro Gutierrez, of New Milford, was convicted on numerous counts -- including felony murder, kidnapping and weapons charges -- in the October 2011 slaying of Shaday Betancourt.

Bergen County prosecutors had argued that Gutierrez learned his 23-year-old wife was about to leave him and return to her native Colombia to start a new life. They said he went to a Teaneck apartment where Betancourt was staying, tied her up and sexually assaulted her before stabbing her six times.

Betancourt's brother later found her bloodied and unconscious and took her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A few hours after Betancourt was stabbed, authorities say Gutierrez flew from New York City to Florida. He was minutes away from boarding another flight to Colombia when he was arrested in Florida.

Defense attorney Brian Neary told the newspaper that he will make a motion to have the verdict set aside and ask for a new trial before the 27-year-old Gutierrez is sentenced June 12.

Neary had argued during the trial that the killing was either an act of self-defense or passion provocation, which would constitute a less serious charge of manslaughter.