Huston blames wife in her death

Kim Smith

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:25 a.m.

Most convicted murderers appearing before a judge for sentencing say they are sorry, or they say nothing. Fred Huston, 82, provided his judge a travelogue Thursday.

Huston, a Sandy Valley resident, was convicted in March of shooting his wife, Eldona Huston, 80, to death as she carried on a 20-minute conversation with a 911 operator last September. The tape of that conversation was a crucial piece of evidence against Huston.

Although a deal had been struck that would guarantee Huston a 40-year to life sentence, District Judge Michael Douglas gave Huston a chance to speak on his own behalf at his sentencing Thursday.

Huston went on a rambling discourse about the many trips he took his wife on during their four years of marriage. He spoke of trips to Florida, California, Virginia, Nebraska and Iowa and the cost of motel rooms and gasoline.

The wheelchair-bound Huston then spoke about the many debts he paid off for Eldona Huston, their sex life, the greedy nature of his former wives and an $8,000 ring that has disappeared from his house since his arrest.

Huston said the 911 operator prompted his wife to say many of the incriminating things on the tape that was played for the jurors.

Repeating what he said at trial, Huston said his wife pulled a gun on him during an argument over the purchase of a new car. They struggled for the gun, he said, and it went off, killing her.

"She finally killed herself is what she did," Huston said, prompting gasps of indignation from the many family members in the courtroom.

"I was never evil to my wife. I was never unkind to my wife and I tried to buy her everything," Huston said.

Douglas told Huston it was clear from the 911 tape what really happened that day.

"The reality is, yes, Mr. Huston, you are responsible for her death," Douglas said.

Although no one will ever know the true nature of their relationship, Douglas told Huston, "You could have walked away anytime, and you chose not to do that."