Dec 12, 2011 1 min read

WAYNESBURG – Scott Baker testified Monday that he didn’t remember cutting the throat of his estranged wife when he killed her, but he remembered seeing blood on the floor.

Baker is on trial for the Nov. 20, 2009 killing of Melissa Baker, who was found in her Crucible mobile home when she failed to show up for work at the Greene County Prison. An autopsy on her body showed she was strangled and her throat was cut when she was either dead or dying.

After the prosecution presented more than three dozen witnesses and then rested in the case last week, Scott Baker, 39, unexpectedly entered a guilty plea for a general count of homicide.

The jury must still decide if the killing was first degree or premeditated murder, third degree murder or possibly voluntary or involuntary manslaughter. The jury must also decide if Scott Baker is guilty on the charges of tampering with evidence, criminal solicitation to commit homicide and criminal solicitation to commit tampering of evidence and intimidation of a witness.

The trial continues at 9 a.m. today before President Judge William R. Nalitz.

For more information, read Amy Revak’s article in the HeraldStandard.com