A Marathon County man faces a mandatory term of life in prison, after a jury convicted him Friday of murdering his wife. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding 40-year-old Patrick Zurkowski guilty in the March 2006 murder of his wife June.
Prosecutor Jill Falstad says Zurkowski murdered June during an argument over money. She says he beat his wife and she died when Patrick shoved part of an Easter bunny shaped candy dish down her throat.
Zurkowski testified during the trial that he killed his wife in self defense after she attacked him with a paring knife. But Falstad says the candy dish was shoved so far down June's throat that a piece broke off, showing it was a brutal murder.
Falstad says June's family was pleased with the outcome of the case.
Zurkowski will be sentenced February 5th.
AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (MP3 :41)
