NASHUA, N.H. (AP) – A jury Monday began deciding the fate of Stephen Mann, who told jurors he was high on drugs and alcohol when he killed his wife – hitting her with a hatchet and then firing a gun at her face.

Mann, 33, acting as his own lawyer, said in closing arguments he didn’t know what he was doing when he killed Kelly Mann, 32, after she slapped him and told him she had slept with his best friend.

He said he had not planned the attack, which he said should merit a manslaughter rather than a first-degree murder conviction. First-degree murder is punishable by life in prison without parole; manslaughter carries a 30-year term.

Mann is charged with bludgeoning his wife in July 2004 and shooting her while their three daughters were in the house in Nashua. Mann then fled to Canada where he was arrested after driving his car into a ditch in Toronto.

Assistant Attorney General David Ruoff said Mann knew his wife was leaving him and he decided to kill her.

The Hillsborough County Superior Court jury had the case for about three hours Monday and was to resume deliberating Tuesday.

AP-ES-10-31-05 1837EST