An Islip Terrace man accused of strangling his estranged wife pleaded not guilty today in court.

Steven Strub, 39, is now facing felony charges of first-degree and second-degree murder.

He's accused of strangling his wife in May in her Centereach apartment.

Prosecutors refused to give specifics but say that Strub allegedly tricked his estranged wife into letting him into her basement apartment in Centereach.

They say that he then strangled her, took her to another room, removed her clothing and had sex with her when she was physically helpless and dying.

The motive, according to the district attorney's office, was that she was moving on with her life without him.

Defense attorney Chris Cassar says the allegations are inconsistent with his client's character, as well as his love and affection for his wife.

Cassar says both Strub and his estranged wife were battling drug addiction. He says the victim also had recently been threatened by her drug dealer.

Prosecutors say Strub made a video taped confession and admitted to the murder. Strub's attorney says the confession came only after being interrogated for 12 hours by detectives who wore his client down.

The judge set bail at $750,000 cash. Stub is due back in court next month.