By Bryan Schwartzman
A woman was slashed to death in her Jamaica home last Thursday morning allegedly by her estranged husband while their 10-year-old daughter sat nearby, police said.
Glenn Norris, 38, of 219-16 146th Ave. in Rosedale, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of his wife Jan Norris, 39, of 108-52 176th St., police said.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years to life.
Jan and Glenn Norris had a tumultuous history of violence and court appearances, separations and reconciliations which police say culminated in her murder.
Lt. Dennis Cirillo said Glenn Norris showed up about 7:20 a.m. at his wife's home armed with two knives and a .38-caliber pistol. The two began to argue and Glenn Norris allegedly began slashing his wife with the knives, Cirillo said.
Ellen Borakove, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said the cause of death was blunt impact to the head and torso, as well as injuries to the brain and skull and rib fractures and lacerations.
Neighbors called 911 after they heard screams coming from the home, Cirillo said. When police arrived a short time later, Jan Norris lay dead near the front door and Glenn Norris was threatening to kill himself, Cirillo said.
But police were able to subdue Glenn Norris, who was later arrested, he said.
Mary de Bourbon, a spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney's office, said the two were not living together at the time and Jan Norris had a court order of protection in effect against her husband until March 17.
But de Bourbon said the terms of the order allowed Glenn Norris to pick up his daughter and take her to school every day. She said the Family Court order probably barred Glenn Norris from entering the home and that on the day of the murder the Norrises' child was sitting on the front step.
“A court order settling a marriage dispute can be fashioned in any way a judge sees fit,” de Bourbon said.
She said Jan Norris was first issued an order of protection in 1996, and in early 1997 Glenn Norris was arrested for violating the order and allegedly breaking down a bedroom door and threatening his wife, according to records from the DA's office.
In 1998 Jan Norris was arrested twice for allegedly cutting her husband's hand with a knife during a fight and threatening to kill him. On Aug. 19, 1998 Glenn Norris was arrested for allegedly leaving several threatening messages on her voice mail at work.
But there were never any criminal charges pressed and records show that by late 1998 the two were seeing a marriage counselor. Records show Glenn Norris was arrested again in March 1999 for arguing with his estranged wife and violating an order of protection.
Six days later he pleaded guilty to harassment charges and received a conditional discharge, de Bourbon said.
De Bourbon said the daughter is staying with her grandmother in Kew Gardens.
