Estranged husband convicted for shooting wife

A US man who shot his soon-to-be ex-wife weeks before their final divorce hearing has been sentenced to at least 43 years in prison.

David Boutwell was charged with attempted murder after shooting Sandra Boutwell and William Taylor on December 30th, 2007 and was given two sentences of 22 to 44 years for each conviction, as well as two other shorter sentences for burglary and removing evidence from the scene.

He received his sentence in Hillsborough County Superior Court, New Jersey yesterday (January 16th). While in court he turned to Mrs Boutwell and her boyfriend and said: "I'm very, very sorry," the Associated Press reports.

According to the news agency, Mrs Boutwell was shot in the arm, leg and hip area while Mr Taylor received wounds to the arm and hip which resulted in a four-month stay in hospital.

Mr Boutwell, 45, has also been banned from seeing his two children. A final divorce hearing is due to take place in May this year.

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