N.E. Phila. man charged in death of wife

A 53-year-old Northeast Philadelphia man has been charged with murder after his wife was found burned, beaten, and strangled in an attack sparked by her alleged infidelity, police said yesterday.

Shakuntla Guru, 43, was found dead in her home in the 10800 block of Gifford Street in Somerton after police were called about 9:30 a.m. Thursday to investigate a report of someone screaming inside the house.

Ashok Kumar Guru was arrested and charged with his wife's death. Police said they found the victim on the living room floor with what appeared to be burns on her face. A shovel handle, allegedly used to beat her, was recovered.

The cause of death was strangulation, said Jeff Moran, spokesman for the Medical Examiner's Office. - Inquirer staff