AUBURN — A Sudanese man who was sentenced Wednesday to serve two years in prison for stabbing his estranged wife told the judge he only wanted to return to his native country as soon as possible.

Deng Mirac, 43, of Lewiston entered a no-contest plea to a charge of aggravated assault in Androscoggin County Superior Court. The felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

He was indicted by an Androscoggin County grand jury on a charge of attempted murder. That charge would be dismissed after the plea hearing.

Mirac was sentenced to six years in prison with all but two years suspended, plus three years of probation.

Mirac’s estranged wife, Adut Adong, arranged to have a friend read into a courtroom speaker phone a statement she had prepared for Wednesday’s hearing.

She wrote that the assault continued to affect her every day and that she experiences flashbacks of the scene. She wrote that she has nightmares about the assault and fears what will happen to her when Mirac is released from prison. She also asked why Mirac wanted to kill her.

That question went unanswered Wednesday as Mirac was led through the process of waiving his rights to a trial and possible appeals.

Speaking in Arabic through interpreter Sana Osman, Mirac told Justice MaryGay Kennedy several times that he just wanted the court process to end.

“I don’t want to talk about this,” he said through his interpreter.

Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bogue said Adong, 34, had been separated from Mirac for six months when he attacked her late one night in April 2013.

Mirac had been charged with assaulting her before and had been released on bail conditions, Bogue said.

Adong was driving home after midnight when she spotted Mirac on the street. She had stopped at her home when Mirac tapped on her window, Bogue said. As she got out of her car, Mirac said: “I am done for you,” and struck her in the face with a kitchen knife, slicing through her left cheek. He thrust the knife at her again, stabbing her left forearm as she tried to deflect the blow, Bogue said.

Adong was able to disarm Mirac during a struggle. He fled the scene, Bogue said.

A woman who lived nearby heard Adong scream and saw Mirac from her window. She called 911 and gave a description of Mirac and his clothing to police. Adong also described Mirac for police, Bogue said.

Mirac told the judge he didn’t believe he was guilty, but thought it was best if he were to agree to the plea “so I can get back to my country.”

Kennedy explained that Mirac’s plea would result in “serious immigration consequences.” Mirac said: “It’s all right. No problem.”

Mirac said: “God said, ‘If you die, you go back home.’ That’s what’s happening to me. I’m dying and I’m going back home.” He said he has a medical degree.

While on probation, Mirac is barred from having any contact with Adong, except to arrange through a third party the care of their children. He also is prohibited from having any weapons, including knives, and can be searched at any time for them. And he must undergo counseling for domestic violence.

Kennedy said she had ruled against an earlier defense motion to suppress evidence.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com

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