A Spencer man accused of killing his wife by shoving a decorative Easter plate down her throat is changing his plea.

39-year-old Patrick Zurkowski pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, but know he is changing it to not guilty. Zurkowski spent four months in a mental health facility before a judge ruled he was competent to stand trial. He had been found mentally incompetent before.

Zurkowski is accused of killing his wife June during a deadly beating in March 2006. His trial is scheduled for October.