Arlington Heights man's hatchet murder trial postponed

The trial for an Arlington Heights man accused of killing his wife with a hatchet has been postponed again.

Cristian Loga-Negru is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, mayhem and kidnapping in the death of his wife, Roxana Abrudan. The Arlington Heights couple were both Romanian immigrants who had a volatile relationship for months leading up to Abrudan's murder in November 2014.

Abrudan, 36, had contacted police several times and filed for an order of protection against her husband before her death. She then fled their Arlington Heights condo and was hiding with her boss and his wife before, authorities allege, Loga-Negru attacked her outside their home and took her to a Super 8 Motel in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.

According to a criminal complaint, police found him in the parking lot with Abrudan's body in the car. She died later that night at a Wisconsin hospital of what the Milwaukee County medical examiner described as “multiple chop wounds and blunt force injuries.”

Loga-Negru's trial was set to begin on Feb. 1, but in January he entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea and requested a mental evaluation. Now, the doctor assessing him has asked for an extension, according to Wisconsin court records.

A competency hearing is now scheduled for March 10 in Racine County.