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Why Did Orville Fleming Admit To Jury He Stabbed Sarah Douglas To Death?

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A former Cal Fire chief accused of killing his fiancee and then going on the run told a jury on Tuesday he did it, possibly in an effort to save himself.

Even though Orville Fleming's attorney was willing to allow his client to admit he stabbed and strangled Sarah Douglas, they're focused on calling his frame of mind into question. Depending on what the jury believes, it could mean a big difference.

RELATED: Ex-Cal Fire Chief Says He Felt Like Zombie While Stabbing Girlfriend To Death

Legal expert Kevin Adamson says putting a defendant on the stand always comes with some risk.

"In this case it appears that his defense attorney is acknowledging that he killed the woman and going for a voluntary manslaughter," he said. "So you really don't have a choice but to put your client on."

The lesser charge carries a maximum sentence of 11 years in prison instead of a life sentence.

"There has to be some provocation by the victim in the case and then the person has to react in the heat of passion in response to the provocation," he said.

Cameras weren't allowed in the courtroom as Fleming described his tumultuous relationship with Sarah Douglas, meeting her as an escort, then turning it into more.

Fleming said Douglas would often use drugs, scream at him and belittle him. One one occasion, he went into the kitchen, got a knife, pinner her down on a bed, stabbed her and strangled her.

He says he remembers nothing after, saying "I felt like a zombie." and "This was a woman I was going to marry in three months and I killed her."

Adamson says it won't just be what Fleming says, but how he acts on the stand that could make the difference.

"The risk any time you put a client on, is that he does not come across as a likeable guy, and if the jury simply doesn't like him anyway, in which case it absolutely sinks his case," he said.

Fleming testified while he was on the run, he tried to kill himself three times, but couldn't go through with it.

On Wednesday, he will be cross-examined and that will be a good indication of just how well he handles what will likely be very tough questions.

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