Central NY man who strangled his wife to death in 2009 returns to court, saying he was a victim [Video]

Syracuse, N.Y. – A Central New York man who pleaded guilty to strangling his wife and trying to dump her body in a reservoir in 2009 is seeking a reduced prison sentence under a law meant to grant leniency to domestic violence victims.

Alex Martinez, now 37 years old, had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, admitting he strangled his 21-year-old wife of two months, Angela Harris, in front of their 6-month-old inside their Clay apartment on April 18, 2009.

Martinez appeared before Onondaga County Court Judge Gordon Cuffy Friday to schedule a hearing to plead his case that his actions were a result of abuse he suffered as a child and at the hands of his wife during their “rollercoaster” relationship, according to a petition filed by Martinez’s attorney Melissa Swartz.

Martinez in his petition said the couple got into an argument the morning of Harris’ death where she threw the box for her engagement ring at his head and he …