Woman claims self-defense in husband’s stabbing

BY VICTOR INGE

THE SELMA TIMES-JOURNAL

CAMDEN &045; Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday in Wilcox County Circuit Court where a woman on trial for the stabbing death of her husband is claiming self-defense.

Mary Tate’s lawyer’s claim she was a battered woman and was protecting herself New Year’s Day 2006 when the incident involving her late husband, Michael Tate. Proceedings are expected to resume today before Judge Jack Meigs.

Defense attorneys said they have not decided if Mary Tate would take the witness stand to testify on her own behalf.

The victim’s mother, Ellen Milton, testified Monday her son managed to walk to her home next door, and when she went to the door he was covered in blood. Milton testified she got help and attempted to drive her son to the hospital in Thomasville, where he was pronounced dead.

Tate, who prosecutors said had suffered a stroke, was reportedly stabbed in the chest and in the neck area. He and Mary Tate were high school sweethearts.

The morning of the incident, the defendant told authorities she &8220;was cornered&8221; in their kitchen as the deceased attacked her. She grabbed a knife from the sink to defend herself, according to her defense.