Elden MacFarlane, of Bay Shore, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of his wife in 2005.

Prosecutors say MacFarlane killed his wife, Regina, with a kitchen knife in front of her 10-year-old daughter. The defense claimed all along that MacFarlane was suffering from mental illness and delusions which drove him to kill the victim.

MacFarlane claimed he heard God telling him to kill his wife because she was practicing witchcraft. The prosecution sought to prove MacFarlane knew what he was doing, saying the 911 tapes were evidence of that.

Shortly before the sentencing, MacFarlane addressed the court. He denied faking mental illness and abusing his wife. He then apologized to her family. Bob Jones, MacFarlane?s brother-in-law, says his two nieces will now have 25 years of peace.

MacFarlane's attorney says he plans to file an appeal.