Mistrial in North Aurora attempted murder case

A mistrial was declared Thursday in the case of a North Aurora man accused of trying to kill his wife by putting a plastic bag over her head.

Dariusz Hrehorowicz, 37, of the 600 block of Graham Road, has been on trial since Tuesday on attempted murder and unlawful restraint charges stemming from the attack one year ago today.

Late Thursday, Kane County Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon declared a mistrial after jurors deliberated for more than seven hours and were unable to reach a verdict.

Prosecutors had argued Hrehorowicz was angry with his wife of 14 years because she had filed for divorce. On Jan. 23, 2008, he lured her into a basement closet, put the bag over her head and pulled it tight in an attempt to suffocate her, according to the charges.

After the woman broke free, prosecutors said, Hrehorowicz tackled her to the ground, put his hand over her mouth and said, "'I have to do this so you don't hurt anybody else.'" Again, the woman said, she broke free and ran to a neighbor's house to call police.

Hrehorowicz denied the allegations Thursday, testifying his wife had been combative toward him previously but that he had been asleep at the time the attack was alleged to have happened.

Defense attorney Urszula Czuba-Kaminski claimed in closing arguments the woman concocted the story because she "did not like her husband anymore" and "wanted to show him whatever she wants goes."

"This man adored his wife," Czuba-Kaminski said.

Assistant State's Attorney Liz Miles said Hrehorowicz's testimony, including claims that he punched himself in the face to keep from losing consciousness after his wife hit him, was inconsistent and "ludicrous."

"Everything that came out of his mouth was fiction," she said.

Mistrial: Charges said attack happened a year ago today