Newark man admits to trying to kill girlfriend

NEWARK - A Newark man admitted Tuesday to trying to kill his girlfriend in August.

Shane R. Gabriel, 29, entered guilty pleas to charges of attempted murder and felonious assault.

Assistant Licking County Prosecutor Paula Sawyers said Gabriel had been at a home on the 200 block of North Buena Vista Street in Newark with his girlfriend and one of her relatives.

Police were called to the residence and found Gabriel on top of his girlfriend, who was in a chair, with a large knife in his hand. Officers had to use a Taser to get Gabriel off her, Sawyers said.

The victim sustained a long, deep cut to her neck, as well as cuts to her hand and arm. She was taken to a Columbus hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Gabriel told police when interviewed that he had tried to break the woman's neck and when that did not work, he attempted to slit her throat and stab her, Sawyers said.

Gabriel is listed as being 6 feet, 8 inches tall, more than a foot taller than the victim, who was in court Tuesday.

During the hearing Tuesday, Gabriel said he had taken the knife from the victim before using it, which caused the victim to shake her head "no." Sawyers and Judge David Branstool agreed that the validity of Gabriel's claim regarding the knife did not affect the overall facts of the case.

Sawyers and Gabriel's attorney, Andrew Stevenson, are expected to present a joint recommendation for a 10-year prison sentence during a hearing scheduled for Jan. 25.