Illinois man accused of killing wife skips trial

PEORIA - A man accused of fatally stabbing his estranged wife has opted not to participate in his trial.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports the decision Monday means no one will be sitting at the defense table for 47-year-old Clarence Thomas, who is acting as his own attorney. The jury has only heard the state's version of the case alleging he stabbed Martha Thomas 38 times in January 2010 while a 5-year-old girl and the couple's 1-year-old son were present.

Thomas told the judge Monday he wasn't ready to go to trial, but prosecutors and the judge said he should have been preparing for the case in jail.

Prosecutors went through opening statements and six witnesses without Thomas present. They included a friend of Martha Thomas and the girl, who is now 10 years old.