Burton claims self-defense in samurai sword murder trial

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- In opening statements this morning in a Pasadena firefighter's murder trial, attorneys for the prosecution and defense agreed -- a bitter marital split eventually led to the death of Otilia Burton.

Burton died on July 16, 2006 after her husband, Michael Burton, stabbed her 10 times with a samurai sword in the couple's Rancho Cucamonga home. He then tried to take his own life.

At issue today in West Valley Superior Court was whether Michael Burton, 48, was acting in self-defense.

His defense attorney, Winston McKesson, told jurors during his opening statement that Otilia Burton first became violent when she threw a kitchen knife at her husband during an argument.

The woman later stabbed her husband in the chest with the knife, McKesson said, and while defending himself Michael Burton killed his wife with a samurai sword.

Michael Burton will testify during the trial, McKesson told jurors.

Deputy District Attorney Michele Daly disputed the defense version of events this morning, telling jurors in her opening statement that that in conversations the morning of the incident, Burton never said his wife attacked him, and never said he acted in self-defense.

And prior to the attack, Burton confided in a friend that he wanted to kill his wife, Daly said.

"I want to kill her," Burton told his friend, Daly said today. "Sometimes I just want to kill her."

Otilia and Michael Burton, husband and wife for 13 years, began divorce proceedings after Michael Burton discovered that his wife was having an affair with a married man.

The boyfriend, Matthew Alan Huntoon, testified today that he and Otilia Burton began dating in October 2004 after meeting at a local gym.

Huntoon's wife told Michael Burton of the affair in April 2005. Shortly after, Huntoon said he moved out of his family's home and the Burtons' divorce proceedings began.

Huntoon and Otilia Burton remained a couple until the time of her death, Huntoon told jurors.

They had plans "to spend the rest of our lives together and get married," Huntoon said.

The night before Otilia Burton's death, the couple watched a movie at Huntoon's apartment and Burton left to go home at about 1:30 a.m. on July 16, Huntoon testified.

During his cross-examination of Huntoon, McKesson asked numerous questions about Huntoon's workout habits, martial-arts training and four-year stint as a Marine.

The line of questioning appeared designed to bolster McKesson's contention that Burton was acting in self-defense when he killed his wife.

During his opening statement, McKesson told jurors that Burton feared Huntoon may have been lurking near the home the night of the incident prepared to help Otilia Burton.

Also called as a witness today was a San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy who was a member of a SWAT team that entered the Burtons' home the morning of the incident.

Detective Kevin Ferber said that when deputies entered the home at about 6:45, they found Otilia Burton dead on the living room floor, covered by a dark-colored blanket.

Michael Burton was lying face-up in the kitchen in a pool of his own blood, Ferber testified.

He was holding a kitchen knife with both hands, and had stabbed himself in the chest.

When deputies found him, the knife was 1-2 inches deep into his chest. He also had knife wounds on his neck and wrists, Ferber testified.

Deputies had to forcibly remove the knife from Burton's chest using a Taser, baton and other measures, Ferber testified.

The third witness called today by Daly was Michael Burton's girlfriend, Josefina Hernandez, who said she and Burton remained on the phone for most of the hours-long standoff that followed Otilia Burton's stabbing.

Hernandez said she received a call from Michael Burton, and he told her he had stabbed his wife. Hernandez testified that during the initial call she could hear moaning in the background, presumably from Otilia Burton.

During a subsequent call, "he said that she had taken her last breath," Hernandez testified.

In the courtroom audience today, family members and other supporters of Otilia Burton took up nearly an entire row.

Michael Burton's supporters appeared to be limited to his mother, Carol Burton, who declined an interview request following the hearing.

Burton's trial is set to resume Monday morning in West Valley Superior Court.

Picture of Burton is from a 2006 court appearance.

CORRECTION: Michele Daly's first name was misspelled in the original version of this story.