Michael Wilson, 33, pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder Friday in a Marion County court. Nupur Srivastava, 33, died May 13 in a hospital where she had been in a coma since April, when she suffered third-degree burns on 60 percent to 80 percent of her body.
Srivastava told medics that Wilson doused her with gasoline and set her on fire during an argument at the couple's home on the Southside of Indianapolis, according to police.
Wilson, who was treated for burns to his forearms and hands, initially told firefighters he and Srivastava had been burned when he tried to light a propane grill, but police said Wilson's grill still had its plastic cover on it.
"Things are not always as they seem," said Wilson's attorney, Marvin Coffey.
"We're not disputing the fact that she had gasoline on her; we're disputing the fact that she died of that, and it is a terrible, tragic thing," he said. "Now the question remains, was it an intentional act?"
Wilson's trial was scheduled for July 30. If convicted, he could face 45 to 65 years in prison.
