Standoff detailed in samurai sword murder trial

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- Jurors heard detailed testimony today about the five-hour standoff at Michael Burton's home following the death of his wife, who Burton allegedly stabbed 10 times with a three-foot samurai sword.

Today was the second day of testimony in the West Valley Superior Court murder trial for Burton, a former Pasadena firefighter.

Burton and his wife, Otilia Burton, were in the midst of a contentious divorce when he allegedly stabbed her to death following an argument on July 16, 2006 at the couple's Rancho Cucamonga home.

After killing his wife, Burton tried to commit suicide by stabbing and cutting himself repeatedly, according to prosecutors.

Burton's defense attorney, Winston McKesson, told jurors last week that Burton was stabbed first by his wife, and he attacked her with the sword in self-defense.

For slightly more than two hours today, sheriff's personnel who responded to Burton's home testified about the lengthy standoff that ensued after Burton's girlfriend told authorities that Burton might be suicidal.

Three sheriff's deputies who arrived at the Burton home shortly after 2 a.m. testified that when deputies knocked at Burton's front door and announced themselves as sheriff's deputies, there was movement inside the home but Burton did not open the door.

Two of the deputies testified that they saw a silhouetted figure walking around the house holding a long object they believed was a weapon.

Deputy Mike Mason testified that he helped the Burtons' two young sons escape from the family home in the midst of the standoff.

The boys escaped the home through a second-floor window, and stepped onto a roof that covered a ground-level patio, Mason said.

Mason helped the boys off from the roof and carried them to safety, he testified.

Because Burton failed to allow authorities into his home in the 10300 block of Cartilla Court, sheriff's detectives had to first obtain a warrant before going in.

At about 7 a.m. a sheriff's SWAT team entered the home and discovered Otilia Burton dead in the living room, covered by a sleeping bag, Sgt. Mo Brickley testified.

SWAT officers found Michael Burton in the kitchen, where he was lying on the floor and stabbing himself in the chest with an 8- to 10-inch knife, Brickley testified.

Officers Tased Burton several times and struck his wrist with a baton in an effort to keep him from hurting himself further, Brickley testified.

During testimony this afternoon of sheriff's Detective Robert David Pleasant, jurors were shown the clothing and shoes worn by Burton during the incident, as well as the black handle of the knife authorities say he stabbed himself with.

The items were wrapped in clear plastic and removed from a large evidence bag. Some of the clothing had visible blood stains.

Among the items was a pair of Pasadena Fire Department shorts.

Testimony in Burton's trial is set to continue at 10:30 Tuesday morning in West Valley Superior Court.