A 46-year-old Southern California teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder in the fatal stabbing of his estranged wife, who was killed one day after she reported that he violated terms of a restraining order.
Michael Rodney Kane appeared at a brief arraignment hearing Wednesday afternoon at Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys.
He was charged Wednesday morning in the deadly stabbing, which occurred Saturday at the West Hills home of the victim's friend. He faces a burglary charge, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of making criminal threats.
Kane was brought to court in a wheelchair and had a large bandage on his neck. Kane was treated for injuries at a hospital Monday morning before he was booked, but details regarding his injuries were not immediately available.
"The facts as reported in the media -- the so-called facts -- will not be the same once this case goes to trial. It will be substantially a difference in what happened," said his attorney, Stuart Faber, outside the courthouse.
Faber added that Kane was "quite distraught," but declined to discuss health issues.
Witnesses said the violence Saturday morning spilled into the street outside the home in the 7100 block of Deveron Ridge Road. Michelle Kane suffered multiple stab wounds, according to investigators.
Witnesses said the attacker also stabbed a man who attempted to protect Michelle Kane (pictured, right).
Her estranged husband, a teacher at Nestle Avenue Charter Elementary School in Tarzana, was arrested two days later at a motel in Yucca Valley, about 120 miles east of Los Angeles.
Michelle Kane, 43, filed a police report on Friday reporting that Michael Kane had violated his restraining order, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The temporary restraining order was filed April 24.
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