Man Alludes to Verdict in Attack on Wife, Victim Says

A Yuba City man who attacked his wife with a knife alluded to the O.J. Simpson verdict during the assault, the woman said.

Gary Wayne Smith, 39, was arrested Saturday on investigation of domestic violence, attempted murder and torture, police said. He was also wanted on a burglary warrant from the Marysville Police Department.

Susanne Dake told police her estranged husband broke into her apartment Saturday morning, started stabbing her and said: “If O.J. can get away with it, so can I.” Simpson was found not guilty last week of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Lyle Goldman.

“[Smith] broke down the door, dragged her from her apartment and slashed her in the face repeatedly with a butcher knife,” said Sgt. Bill Ollar.

Authorities later found Smith without shoes in the lobby of the Yuba County courthouse, and found a large butcher knife in his car, according to a police news release.

Smith repeatedly told officers “that he loved the victim and that he loved her so much that he would not hurt her,” the news release said.

The couple had been separated for two years and the divorce was in its final stages, Ollar said, adding that Smith had a history of domestic abuse.