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FARMINGTON — A Centerville man accused of stabbing his wife and attempting to run over her with his car when she told him she wanted a divorce has been sentenced to prison.
Stepan Badikyan, 51, was sentenced to three years to life in prison last week for attempted murder, a first-degree felony. Badikyan pleaded guilty to the charge in April as additional charges of tampering with evidence and aggravated assault, third-degree felonies, were dismissed.
Badikyan was arrested May 29, 2014. According to police, Badikyan and his wife began arguing at their Centerville home. It was there that Badikyan assaulted his wife, police said, then put her in the car to go get medical attention.
When the car stopped for a red light near 400 North and 500 West in Bountiful, the woman jumped out of the vehicle and tried to run away. Badikyan responded by attempting to run over her, police said, driving up over the curb. A bystander told police Badikyan got out of the car with a box cutter and chased his wife, who was already bleeding from her arm and neck.
When Badikyan grabbed his wife from behind and stabbed her in the side, the bystander ran to her aid and tackled Badikyan, police said. After getting the box cutter away, the man sat on Badikyan until police arrived.
Both Badikyan and his wife were treated at an area hospital before Badikyan was booked into the Davis County Jail.
Police said the argument between Badikyan and his wife had escalated when she said she wanted a divorce.
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting the YWCA's Women in Jeopardy program at 801-537-8600, or the Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-897-LINK (5465).
