The Iowa City woman accused of killing her husband, who was a high-level University of Iowa official, wants to proceed with her trial. The lawyer for 54-year-old Phyllis Nelson says she’s rejecting any plea agreement to drop first-degree murder charges because she is innocent. Richard Nelson, Dean of the U-of-I Medical School, died of a single stab wound to the heart December 12th. Court papers released last month show Mrs. Nelson admitted to stabbing her husband at his Cedar Rapids apartment. She’s currently slated to go to trial March 11th, though that date may be pushed back.
