PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Portland man who admitted hiring an ex-con to kill his wife last year pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit aggravated murder.
     
The plan failed when Susan Kuhnhausen, 52, strangled her hammer-wielding attacker.
     
Michael Kuhnhausen, 59, admitted his guilt Wednesday in a plea agreement. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 7.
     
Edward Haffey, 59, was waiting for Susan Kuhnhausen when she returned home from work Sept. 6, 2006. Kuhnhausen fended off the hammer attack and the two fell to the floor fighting.
     
Susan Kuhnhausen got on top of Haffey and strangled him.
     
Haffey had carried his wallet and a backpack to the house. Inside the backpack he had a day planner with the notation for the week of Sept. 4: "Call Mike, get letter."
     
Police arrested Michael Kuhnhausen a week later.
     
"I find some peace in the fact that my husband has admitted in open court what he did," Susan Kuhnhausen said after the brief hearing.

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