Fergus pleads not guilty in wife's stabbing

Neil Fergus, the New Milford man charged with attempted murder for the November stabbing of his estranged wife, pleaded not guilty to that charge and seven others Feb. 26 at state Superior Court in Litchfield.

Mr. Fergus made the plea after a psychiatric evaluation found him competent to stand trial.

Standing before Superior Court Judge James P. Ginocchio, Mr. Fergus -- clad in handcuffs and an orange prison jumpsuit -- answered "yes, your honor" to Judge Ginocchio's questions about whether he understood the competency report and his decision to waive a full competency hearing.

Mr. Fergus attorney, Martin Minella of Waterbury, then entered the not-guilty plead to all charges on his client's behalf. Ten minutes after being led into court, Mr. Fergus was led out again by sheriffs.

Police arrested Mr. Fergus on Nov. 14. Police said he went to the Cortland Drive home of his estranged wife, Catherine, and found her in the family car with their two sons.

In front of the sons, police said, he opened the car door and stabbed his wife several times in the upper back and right arm.

Catherine Fergus escaped her husband and ran into her house. Police said Mr. Fergus chased her into the house, throwing his 71-year-old mother-in-law to the floor in his pursuit.

Police arrested Mr. Fergus at the scene.

The couple are divorcing and Mrs. Fergus has a protective order against her husband.

Two hours before the Nov. 14 attack, she told police her estranged husband had harassed her over the phone several times, police said.