A 55-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday to fatally stabbing his estranged wife at a Santa Monica grocery store, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
Kelvin Melvin Green, a black man, was immediately sentenced by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Dabney to 75 years to life in prison. The murder conviction counts as Green’s third strike, according to prosecutors.
On Aug. 21, 2011, Green stabbed his estranged wife, 46-year-old Christina Talley, while she was working at a Santa Monica Albertson’s store. Talley died a day later.
Green also assaulted a man who tried to stop the attack, but the man was not injured. Talley had previously told Green that she wanted to end their relationship and had taken out a restraining order against him, prosecutors said.
Green is due back in court September 3 for a hearing.