A man who was accused of killing his estranged wife entered a guilty plea Monday, avoiding a trial set to start this week.

Roidan Durruthy Mendoza , 40, pleaded guilty to a count of murder with use of a deadly weapon in connection with the August 2023 killing of Marillorky Tamayo Cruz.

Deputy District Attorney Corey Hallquist said after court that prosecutors plan to seek a life without parole sentence. He said Durruthy Mendoza fatally shot his wife because they were going through a divorce. Durruthy Mendoza committed the shooting in front of two children, then tried to kill additional witnesses, according to the prosecutor.

The defendant nearly derailed the plea when he contradicted himself and denied committing the shooting shortly after confirming to District Judge Michelle Leavitt t

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