Man, 87, Gets 26 Years To Life For Murdering Wife With Hatchet

LOS ANGELES (AP) —  An 87-year-old Los Angeles County man has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for the 2009 hatchet murder of his wife and attempted murder of his stepson.

James Lu was sentenced Friday in Superior Court in Alhambra.

Lu was convicted in July of first-degree murder in the death of his 55-year-old wife, Michelle, and the attempted murder of his 32-year-old stepson.

Defense attorneys were quoted as saying the killing was self-defense but prosecutors claim Lu was angry because he believed he spent too much money on his wife and she spent too much time away from home.

The hatchet attack took place at the couple's home near Pasadena.

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