Guilty plea in Hadley murder
Man admits to killing his wife with an axe
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. » A Hadley man faces a minimum of 20 years in prison after admitting in court Thursday to killing his wife with an axe.
Michael C. Norton admitted to second-degree murder , a class A-1 felony, in Saratoga County Court. He’s expected to received 20 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced Jan. 11, 2018.
Norton admitted to killing his wife, Sherry, in May at their 3rd Avenue home in Hadley with an axe. After his arraignment, Norton said he “did not mean it” while being escorted from court. Sherry Norton’s body was found inside the home.
An autopsy revealed that Sherry Norton died of “blunt force trauma” from being struck in the back of the head with an axee.
As part of his plea deal, Norton waived his right to appeal.
Third Avenue is part of a quiet residential neighborhood, located about a half mile north of Rockwell Street, the main road leading from
Hadley to Great Sacandaga Lake.
Authorities and neighbors said the couple apparently had problems before, as Michael Norton was under a refrain from order of protection, which allowed him to be at the residence, but directed him not to do anything that might trigger an order of protection.
Michael Norton admitted in County Court in April that he recklessly discharged a gun inside the house during an earlier confrontation, but it was not done in a threatening or intentionally injurious manner, officials said.
Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen, said a collaborative effort by law enforcement officers led to Thursday’s guilty plea.
“The thorough investigation by the team of law enforcement officers ... resulted in a case where all of the evidence supported and corroborated the fact that Michael Norton brutally killed his wife,” Heggen said.
The case was prosecutived by Assistant District Attorney Jennifer L. Buckley.
Authorities and neighbors said the couple apparently had problems before.