Christopher Hanney attempted murder trial winding down

TAMPA - Closing argumentswere underway Thursday morning in Christopher Hanney's attempted murder trial.

Hanney is accused of attempted murder, aggravated battery and arson.

Prosecutors say, in 2009, Hanney and his wife, Audrey Mabrey, were in the process of divorcing.

They say in November, Hanney grabbed Mabrey, took her to the garage of their Apollo Beach house, beat her with a hammer, doused her with gasoline and then tossed a lit candle at her.

They say Mabrey was set on fire. With the help of a neighbor, she was able to extinguish the fire but suffered burns to 80 percent of her body.

She has testified against her husband during the trial, held at the Hillsborough County Couthouse.

Hanney took the witness stand Wednesday.

He claims Mabrey and an unknown masked man attacked him. He said he accidentally hit Mabrey with a hammer while trying to fight back against the unknown man.

Hanney also claims he was tied up at gunpoint. He said he accidentally set his wife on fire while trying to escape the ties.