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(Salt Lake City, KSL TV) -- In a surprise twist this morning in the case of the BYU student accused of trying to poison his wife, Paul Turner pleaded not guilty.
Turner was expected to reach a plea bargain with prosecutors to resolve the case.
Instead, he entered the not guilty pleas this morning, although there is some indication a plea deal is still in the works. This with the news that his wife is filing for divorce and full custody of their child.
Provo Police say Turner turned himself in last October and confessed to trying to kill his wife by putting rat poison in cookies he baked and exchanging her medication with fish tank cleaner.
His wife and her unborn child were not injured. His wife previously testified she had no idea of her husband's plot against her.
An evidentiary hearing is set for next month, in which the defense will try to keep Turner's confession from being used at his trial.
Prosecutors concede that without Turner's confession in the case, it will be extremely difficult for him to be convicted of attempted murder.
Turner's case was also set for a jury trial for two days in the middle of April. He remains in jail on $250,000 bail.
Turner's wife Sarah also attended today's court hearing. The future of her relationship with her husband is also in question.
