American sentenced to hang for killing ex-wife in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- A Malaysian court has sentenced an American man to death by hanging for killing his ex-wife, but the man will appeal the ruling on the grounds that he acted in self-defense.

Lawyer K.A. Ramu says the High Court found his client, 63-year-old Gerald Wayne Mickelson, guilty of murder in the 2016 strangulation death of his ex-wife Guilda Mickelson.

Gerald Wayne Mickelson was working as a consultant in Malaysia, but planned to move to the Philippines to be with his new Filipino wife.

Ramu says the former couple got into an argument and his client acted in self-defense when his ex-wife started attacking him. The court found otherwise in its ruling Tuesday.

Ramu says his client will appeal.