What a f$;$$(6 scum! Omg!

It's just another day in the war against women.
Beaten, burned or sometimes they simply "disappear" . It is a daily occurance.
Wonder if Joel Brodsky will be defending this man ?

Wow. How can one human being do that to another? Especially your spouse. I am assuming he never ran her over? Just used that as a reason to call police? It's amazing how some people can have absolutely no regard for human life at all and on top of that be so horribly violent.

When will we have tougher laws on spouse abuse?

When can we quit wasting time on trials and prison for dirtbags like this. There were solid witnesses to the act...

The mugshot clearly looks like a man shaken to the core about the untimely death of his wife of 12 years.

Wow..and his niece is defending him. Sounds like they both have psychological issues. Another reason Illinois needs the Death Penalty!

When are you people who want more laws wake up???
CRIMINALS DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE LAW!
What law could have possibly prevented this sad unforeseen act of violence by a maniac?
CRIMINALS AND CRAZY PEOPLE DO NOT ANNOUNCE when they are gonna commit a crime! SO SICK OF EVERYONE WANTING MORE LAWS.....Drugs are illegal , and we all know that eliminated drugs and drug dealers? Yea right! Use your brains! That's the problem with society, nobody wants to take responsibility for their actions. Just make more laws??

mph, How can you ask that question "when are women going to stop being foolish and weak?" I guess you do not know any one:woman" that has been abused. It is not about the woman being week. It is about the man being week. Abusing a woman is being the week one. Some woman take the beatings because they can not leave, maybe it is because of children or money, Maybe afraid. That is very unkind of you to make that statement. Every woman that has or is being abused has a different reson why they can not leave. It is not becasue they are weak. Some woman do not have anyone to help them. Some woman friends and family know about the abuse and still do not get involved and help. I think you should really take that comment back. I just can not believe people would even think a woman is weak because she takes the abuse. UGGG,,,

Typo! The article says "Presence" St. Joe's. That should be Provena.

Actually, Provena is now Presence St. Joseph Medical Center: http://joliet.patch.com/articles/don-t-call-it-provena-st-joe-s-hospital-s-new-name-is-presence

Shannon K...good for you, nothing like defending a murderer. A man that runs over a woman and then kicks her in the face to death winning your 100% devotion and defense sounds like an intelligent move on your part. Keep up the good work! Let us know soon how that is working for you....and any other brilliant decisions you come up with in your bright (and very limited) future. PS Your family must be so proud of your decision!

As despicable as this is, EVERYONE is entitled to a defense. Suppose the wife had just bashed one of their kids heads in? Then would this be ok? Of course that is not the case, BUT, always remember, if it was YOU that was accused, YOU would want and be ENTITLED to a defense. No need to shoot the messenger.

Abused women are brainwashed. These men make women believe their lives can not function without them. They woo them in the begining then it all changes. Look at Drew Peterson with his wife that went missing. He was probably sweet, then changed to a possesive, abusive killer. Women are told they are worthless and that no other man or person can love them. They feel trapped and are told such lies that they feel helpless and alone.
I can not begin to imagine the pain that Ms. Nichols suffered for years and the last few minutes of her life. I truly hope her family find peace. This story is horrible. I agree with Masters RN - same punishment should be used, let an abused woman who is finally free run him over and kick him. No - instead tax payers will pay, even though he is guilty- for years of trials and his not guilty/insanity plea. He will get food, shelter and medical care. Which is more than many abused moms & kids in the USA currently has.

Its the abused women who stick up for the sick men, they are so desperate.

" 31 percent of female victims were killed by an intimate partner. Only 4 percent of male victims were killed by an intimate partner." noted WilliamCanuck.
Too bad you didn't look further into what that means. Most men are killed by other men, usually young black or Latino men. Many more men are murdered than women (unlike some, this would suggest a 'war on men' by other men).

Additionally, to get a real picture one must look at domestic murders. In the past women were responsible for half of all spousal murders. Today, the official statistic is one-in-three but that belies a fuller truth. Most women who kill their spouses poison them and autopsies are rarely done to determine the 'heart attacks' which are listed as causes of death. In short, more women than men get away with domestic murders.

Gee, I wonder what the poor woman cooked for dinner...He was obviously not fed properly and it brought out the wild beast in him.....PTSD wasn't being controlled in any way for this beast;, if this is what he will claim was the reason for his behavior.

Those who kill their spouses have something mentally wrong with them. It doesn't matter what gender, color or ethnicity they are.

As an aside, men who kill their spouses receive an average of 17 years in prison. Women who kill theirs receive an average of 7 years in jail. Women who claim the fictitious "war on women" nonsense should demand equal justice for male victims, that is, they should demand equality in sentencing.
Of course in their hypocrisy--they won't.

Hi Folks,
Leave my comment and youll receive intelligent, knowledgeable, somewhat learned people to respond....and yet, from Chiago and Burbs-North and South, and East and West....and then up to Michigan.....Let's Talk, Hana P*

Lisa S.: are you serious with that comment? You sound dangerously close to blaming a dead woman for not getting help. How many women have actually followed through to the fullest extent of the law to protect themselves from violent partners by making police reports and getting orders of protections against them, only to end up dead anyway? Start your research by looking up the 2012 case of a woman and her child from Chicago who were both burned to death, months after police had already been to the home and found a bathtub full of gasoline that he had been threatening to throw them in. The state's attorney suspended several prosecutors as a result of negligence in that case. No law is going to stop any person who is determined to kill his/her spouse. In fact, the probability of a woman being seriously hurt or killed AFTER she gets an order of protection actually increases due to the abuser feeling the need to exert his power over her no matter what the consequences.

Find it awfully discusting that i read articles about my mother being ,"weak person"...absolutely the opposite of the truth...so thank-you for your rude and ignorant comment while my life and my families has been so deeply affected...Sure hope you never wake up to a nightmare the way we have. My mother was a hard worker,a beautiful person and by no means WAS A WEAK PERSON......people shouldn't leave comments about topics they no NOTHING about,may god forgive your ignorance......why is everyone so concerned about laws between men/woman in this matter...would appreciate people not leaving comments about my mother in a negative way unless i have your permission to write the same about your mother..have a heart for god's sake.............

and my mother would never bash one of her kids heads in either.......