Plea bargain reached in man's death

      Under terms of a plea bargain, a woman who shot and killed her abusive husband likely will be sentenced to probation as the result of her guilty plea Friday to a voluntary manslaughter charge.
      Tamra Larson, 45, was originally charged with murder in connection with the March 1996 slaying of Rodney Larson at the couple's 520 N. Seventh St. home.
      "I came home and in a state of terror, shot my husband in the back," Larson told District Judge Michael Douglas before entering the plea.
      After the shooting, Larson called 911, and paramedics arrived on the scene, according to court documents.
      Had the case gone to trial, defense attorney Chris Oram said he planned to produce evidence from experts that Larson suffered from battered wife syndrome.
      Friends and neighbors would have testified to numerous instances in which they had seen the man physically and mentally victimize his wife, Deputy District Attorney Michael O'Callaghan said in explaining the decision to offer a plea bargain.
      Some of the instances of abuse were documented by law enforcement authorities, he said.
      The defendant's mother, Ellie Marihugh, has said she recalled seeing her son-in-law push her daughter down the driveway and against a car. Marihugh said her daughter meant only to scare her husband when she fired a shot from outside into the dark house.
      In addition, O'Callaghan said, Tamra Larson had a high blood-alcohol content the night of the shooting, which could have made her less legally responsible for her actions.
      Under the terms of the plea agreement, Larson could get probation or a minimum of two years in prison. If the judge does not grant probation, Larson will be allowed to withdraw her guilty plea. Sentencing will be May 15.