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ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) -- An elderly man accused of tying a zip tie around the neck of his wife and trying to kill her plans a defense of diminished mental capacity.
Robert Curtis, 72, charged with attempted aggravated murder and aggravated kidnapping, was to have had a preliminary hearing Monday. However, the defense filed the notice of intent to claim diminished capacity and the hearing was postponed pending psychological tests.
Curtis is alleged to have held his wife captive for more than two hours on Oct. 13. She escaped and ran for help.
Police Lt. Bruce Graham said at that time that she was bleeding from the mouth and face and had a zip tie around her neck.
Officers entered the home and found the husband unconscious with a zip tie around his neck, and the house was being filled with carbon monoxide from the garage where a vehicle's motor was running.
Curtis remains incarcerated on a $250,000 cash-only bail.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
