Battle Ground dentist found guilty of murdering his wife

Summary

James Classen had claimed he was mentally incapable of understanding his crime, but the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.

Story Published: Apr 24, 2006 at 8:16 AM PST

Story Updated: Aug 20, 2006 at 9:11 PM PST

Battle Ground dentist found guilty of murdering his wife
- VANCOUVER, Wash. - Jurors have convicted a dentist from Battle Ground, in southwest Washington, of stabbing his wife to death with a pair of scissors.

Sixty-year-old James Classen had claimed he was mentally incapable of understanding his crime. He said he suffers from bipolar disorder.

The jury found him guilty of first-degree murder just before noon today.

Clark County prosecutor Tony Golik portrayed the stabbing of 56-year-old Eveann Classen as a "cold-blooded, premeditated murder."

Golik said Classen was angry over a reported affair. He said Classen took a pair of sewing scissors and stabbed his wife more than 100 times in February of last year.

A videotape of Classen's confession to police was played for the jury.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Viewer Poll

Do you support adding to the 'rainy day fund' with kicker money?
Read more about it here

  • Yes
  • No
  • Undecided