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Man Killed Wife In Front Of Child

JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) - A southwest suburban man who brutally murdered his wife in front of their 5-year-old son was sentenced to 40 years in prison Thursday after an insanity plea failed to sway a judge.

Kareem Cobbins, 36, of the 4300 block of Glenlo in Joliet was convicted by Circuit Judge Daniel Rozak after a bench trial earlier this year. On Thursday, Judge Rozak sentenced him to 40 years, according to the Will County State's Attorney's office.

On Oct. 24, 2005, Cobbins stabbed his wife Tonya Cobbins to death in her bed after confessing to her that he had been unfaithful, according to a release from the state's attorney's office. He then told another family member what he had done and waited for police to arrive.

Tonya Cobbins was sleeping with her infant child at her side at the time of the attack, and the couple's 5-year-old son witnessed the murder, the release said. The child gave a harrowingly detailed statement to interviewers at the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.

Cobbins' attorney argued unsuccessfully that his client was insane at the time he murdered his wife.

© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

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