Santa Cruz County woman pleads not guilty in stabbing death of husband
SANTA CRUZ — The wife charged with the first degree murder of her husband pleaded not guilty Thursday in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.
Amanda Owens, 51, is accused of the stabbing death of Thomas Owens on Aug. 24 in their Aptos home. She has since posted a $1 million bail and remains out of jail custody.
“Amanda certainly did not mean to kill her husband, the father of her children,” said Attorney George Gigarjian after the case was heard before Judge John Salazar.
Gigarjian added that what transpired was in self defense.
“There is substantial evidence of an ongoing abusive relationship,” he said and added that Amanda Owens called 911 and continued to provide life-saving techniques immediately after the incident.
In the courtroom, Amanda Owens, wearing black pants, a gray sweater and lightweight scarf, sat stoically with hands clasped together. Along with Gigarjian, she stood before Salazar and entered a plea of not guilty. It was also decided that Owens will return to court Oct. 18 to further consider a protective order that prevents Owens from seeing her children.
Outside of the courtroom without Owens present, Gigarjian explained that the protective order is still in place, but they’re hoping to find some middle ground that would allow supervised visitation.
“It’s a tragic event all the way around,” Gigarjian said to local media in the hallway of the courthouse. He added that it’s been tough on the mother to not see her children and that Owens has been allowed to return to the family home as long as the children are not there.
The Owenses have two children, a juvenile daughter and a disabled adult son. Owens has not been allowed to see either of them since the incident.
Santa Cruz County Assistant District Attorney Jason Gill previously stated that Amanda Owens stabbed Thomas Owens in the chest in front of her son. The son’s disability, according to Gill, does not allow him to communicate verbally and likely unable to provide evidence in the case, despite witnessing the crime.
Additionally, Owens is also charged with a second felony count of using a dangerous or deadly weapon in the commission of a felony. In this case it was a kitchen knife, according to prosecutors.