Woman faces trial in attempt to kill husband

A woman accused of trying to kill her husband by "surprising" him with a hammer to the head will face trial on a charge of attempted murder.

At her arraignment in Salt Lake City's 3rd District Court this week, Amy Teresa Ricks pleaded not guilty to the second-degree felony charge.

Salt Lake County sheriff's deputies said Ricks, 34, and her husband had gone out for a romantic dinner and then to a Holladay condo owned by her parents. Court documents said Ricks told her husband she had a "surprise" for him, blindfolding him and spinning him around several times. She then started hitting him in the head with a hammer, police said.

Court documents said Ricks' husband pulled off the blindfold and saw sleeping bags, a knife and plastic bags nearby. He ran and called police.

Ricks is scheduled to face a three-day jury trial beginning Feb. 26, 2008.