Man kills wife because she turned off TV

ROSTRAVER, Pa., March 19 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania man faces 40 years in prison after admitting in court that he was driven to kill his wife after she turned off the television set.

Thomas Gay Wickerham, 58, of Rostraver, Pa., gave no reason for killing his wife as their children looked on, other than an argument about the TV, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.

"I went berserk. She made me shoot her," Wickerham told authorities.

Wickerham pleaded guilty to a third-degree murder charge and awaits a June sentencing in Westmoreland County by Judge Rita Hathaway.

Wickerham was drunk when he opened fire on his wife, Katherine, 48, in February 2005, said defense attorney Amy Keim. He chose to enter a guilty plea for the safety of his relatives, she said.

"He has five kids and they were there when it happened. He didn't want to put them through a trial," Keim said.