A Gillette man accused of trying to kill his wife by stabbing her repeatedly says he wasn’t mentally well enough to rationalize his conduct at the time, according to a court transcript filed Monday.
John Stetson Angus Bosh, 31, pleaded not guilty by reason of mental illness to one count of attempted second-degree murder and another of aggravated assault, says a court transcript filed Monday in Campbell County District Court. That arraignment hearing happened in late October, the transcript says.
The attempted murder charge carries a potential penalty of between 20 years and life in prison, plus up to $10,000 in fines. The aggravated assault charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Under his incompetency pleas, Bosh is set to be evaluated by mental health professionals. The evaluators will then opine on whether he wasn’t mentally capable of rationalizing his conduct or conforming it to the law during the early morning hours of Oct. 4.
‘I’m Sorry I Stabbed You’
On that date, Bosh stabbed his wife China in the chest, arms and cheek, the case affidavit alleges.
He was drinking heavily at his grandmother’s house and arguing with his wife. When Bosh’s grandmother left the room, Bosh went into the kitchen and retrieved a knife, the document says.
The affidavit says Bosh’s wife tried to leave, but he pushed her back onto the couch, where she curled up in a fetal position.
That was when she felt a hit to the chest, China Bosh told Cowboy State Daily in October.
“I didn’t really feel any (stabbing sensation) at first — more of a shock after it got done,” China said at the time. “All I could say was, ‘You stabbed me.’”
She didn’t even realize she’d been stabbed until she looked down at her shirt and noticed blood soaking through it. He kept stabbing downward at her in an overhand motion, the affidavit says.
The document says Bosh stopped stabbed her and asked if she was going to listen to him. Afraid of being stabbed again, she said yes. He gave her a kiss and told her he was going to crash his motorcycle and kill himself, the affidavit adds.
“I’ll always love you,” he said, according to the document. “I’m sorry I stabbed you.”
Then he left the house.
It wasn’t until the adrenaline started to wear off that the pain set in, China Bosh said in October.
Later at the hospital, she told an investigator the pain was a “20” on a 1-10 scale.
‘Not Guilty’ Too
Bosh fled the scene, but authorities had him in custody two days later.
Bosh’s attorney, Dallas Lamb, also entered concurrent pleas of not guilty at the arraignment. In Wyoming, a person can plead both not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness at the same time.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
