Former police inspector today admitted killing his wife.
Keith Farquharson is accused of murdering Alice Farquharson at her home in Aberdeen in August this year.
The 60 year-old's QC Ian Duguid offered a guilty plea to a reduced and amended allegation of culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow.
But, prosecutor Alex Prentice QC told the hearing: "The plea is not acceptable to the Crown."
It means Farquharson will now stand trial for murder next February.
The indictment alleges he seized his 56 year-old wife, struggled with her before compressing her neck and face.
The murder charge further states Farquharson left Alice unconscious after 'restricting her breathing' by covering her nose and mouth.
He is then said to have caused blunt force injury 'by means unknown'.
Farquharson is also accused of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.
This includes a claim he stopped relatives going into a bedroom to see Alice and viewing injuries on her face.
It is further alleged he allowed family members to wash blood stained pillow covers.
Farquharson is also said to have given a 'false account' to police about how Alice was hurt.
The indictment states messages and photos were allegedly deleted from his mobile phone as well as a claim he gave a bogus PIN for the device to officers.
The Crown state this was done to help 'divert police enquiries' from the investigation.
Lord Mulholland set a trial which is expected to last around five days.
