Nassau Man Convicted Of Trying To Kill Wife With Meat Cleaver

A Uniondale man was convicted on Thursday of trying to kill his wife by stabbing her several times with a meat cleaver in October 2015.

Michael Taylor, 52, was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder and various other charges. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison at his June 27 sentencing.

“It was clear that [Taylor's] intent was to kill his wife when he swung a weapon at her head and then stabbed her repeatedly with a meat cleaver,” said District Attorney Madeline Singas. “Thanks to the heroic actions of her daughter, the victim is alive today.”

Around 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2015, Taylor attacked his then-wife, who was 53. He swung a metal pole at her head, but she put her hands up to defend herself. The blow crushed her fingers, which required multiple surgeries to repair.

After attacking her with the pole, Taylor took a meat cleaver and stabbed his wife in the head and back.

Taylor's wife was able to flee with the help of her daughter, who called the police. When officers arrived, Taylor locked himself in the basement of the home. Police tried to contact him for two hours. Eventually, Special Operations Unit officers found him hiding in a basement wall space and placed him under arrest. Taylor told the officers that he slept in the wall.

Taylor was convicted of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of aggravated criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child. The jury acquitted him of one count of attempted first-degree assault and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Photo: Nassau County District Attorney's Office