Closing arguments were delivered Wednesday in the trial of a former White House attorney accused of trying to kill his wife.

John Michael Farren, of New Canaan, allegedly tried to kill his wife Mary Margaret hours after she served him with divorce papers. The prosecution claims he choked her, pulled out her hair and beat her with a flashlight. Farren's defense attorneys argue he was reacting emotionally to what had just happened.

Farren has not been present for the trial because he is protesting the attorneys assigned to represent him.

Farren is facing up to 30 years in prison.