NY Man Who Wanted Wife Killed By Sword Gets Prison

A New York City man who admitted trying to hire a hit man to kill his estranged wife and cut off her wedding-ring hand with a samurai sword has been sentenced to two to six years in prison.

Rockefeller Auguste (aw-GOOST') told a judge he was "deeply remorseful" as he was sentenced Monday. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy last month.

Authorities said Auguste met with an undercover police officer posing as a killer-for-hire in August 2008. They said Auguste gave the officer a sword, a $500 deposit and instructions to kill his wife and chop off her hand to retrieve her $27,000 diamond wedding ring.

She wasn't harmed.

Defense lawyer Harold Levy says Auguste was emotionally overcome by financial and other problems that erupted during the brief marriage.