NEWBURY PARK : Wife Faces Attempted Murder Charge

Her forearm wrapped in a thick bandage, a Newbury Park woman charged with attempted murder for allegedly knocking a car off two jack stands while her estranged husband lay underneath made her first court appearance Tuesday.

Ventura County Municipal Judge Herbert Curtis III postponed 44-year-old Marcia Burns’ arraignment until Oct. 12 to allow the defendant’s attorney time to review police reports. Curtis lowered her bail from $250,000 to $150,000.

Burns, who is unemployed and has lived in the county for three years, was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder and faces nine years in state prison if convicted.

In a soft voice, she answered “yes” when a judge asked her if would waive her right to a speedy arraignment, a request made by Burns’ attorney.

Deputies say Jimmy Lee Burns, 40, was working under a jacked-up car at 1355 Lawrence Drive on Sept. 23 when his wife rear-ended the vehicle, knocking it onto the man.

The victim was treated and released for a severely bruised left arm at Los Robles Regional Medical Center. Marcia Burns fled the scene but was taken into custody several hours later.

She was arrested as she tried to elude officers after crashing her car near Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol officials said she tripped and fell about 200 feet down a brush-choked embankment during her failed escape.

Court officials said Burns, who is being held in Ventura County Jail, has no criminal convictions.