LITTLE VALLEY, N.Y. -- Edward Smith, 50 of Olean. pleaded not guilty Monday in Cattaraugus County Court Monday to murder charges related to the death of his wife.
Smith stabbed his wife Kathy to death with a butcher knife in their Olean apartment last month, then called police to report the crime, according to prosecutors. The Cattaraugus County District Attorney Lori Riema said the case is one of the most unusual she's tried. Smith's attorney, Ben Smith, told prosecutors and the judge he planned on exploring Smith's mental state at the time of the incident.
"Our notice of intent to offer psychiatric evidence. I will do that orally today. We will follow up with something in writing to that effect," said Ben Smith.
"The fact that the defendant called 911 and stated that he killed his wife. And after that, he opted not to speak to the police. The call's eerie and it's just, it's not that often that somebody will call and say they killed somebody," said Riema.
Smith was sent back to the Cattaraugus County jail. The judge did not set bail. If convicted he faces 25 years-to-life in prison. The next court date is set for August.