MILWAUKEE — The Iraq veteran accused of killing his wife, a Milwaukee-area police officer, on Christmas Eve has reached a plea deal.
Thirty-year-old Benjamin Sebena was scheduled to face trial next month on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. But his defense attorney sought a plea hearing Tuesday, and a judge scheduled one for Wednesday afternoon.
Sebena had originally pleaded insanity. But two doctors who agreed that he has mental-health issues said those issues don't rise to the level of supporting an insanity plea.
The criminal complaint says Sebena acknowledged ambushing his wife in Wauwatosa while she conducted a pre-dawn patrol alone.
Sebena's defense attorney wanted those statements tossed because Sebena hadn't been read his Miranda rights first, but the judge said Sebena didn't become a suspect until later in the investigation.
