Ex-Air Force fugitive sentenced for killing wife

updated 6:56 a.m. ET July 31, 2008

SACRAMENTO, California - A former Travis Air Force Base sergeant has been sentenced to 10 years in military prison for killing his pregnant wife with a hammer in 1994.

Col. William Burd found Saner Wonggoun guilty of voluntary manslaughter Wednesday at the Northern California air base, which is located between San Francisco and Sacramento.

Prosecutors had sought to have him convicted of murder.

Burd recommended that Wonggoun be dishonorably discharged and forfeit all pay and benefits. His sentencing recommendation requires approval from the Air Force.

Wonggoun, now 60, admitted killing his wife in a rage because of her gambling debts and after discovering she was pregnant with another man's child.

He dumped his wife's body in Marin County, California, and fled to his native Thailand, eluding capture until 2006. He fought extradition until February.

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