Hatfield man pleads guilty to 3rd-degree murder in wife's slaying

HATFIELD, Pa. -- A man has pleaded guilty to third-degree murder for stabbing his wife to death two years ago as their 6-year-old twin daughters slept upstairs.

38-year-old Walid Mitwalli entered the plea Friday in Montgomery County days before his trial was to begin.

Authorities said he stabbed his wife, Mona, multiple times with a 14-inch carving knife in their Hatfield home in June 2013.

First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele called it "a terrible, terrible crime" and said he would seek a sentence of 15 to 40 years.

Defense attorney John McMahon said his client has always maintained that his wife came at him with a knife first, and he killed her in a "heat of passion and frenzy."

As he was escorted away, Mitwalli said "There's definitely remorse" for the crime.