HOLBROOK, Ariz. (AP) — A prominent California farmer has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in the shooting death of his estranged wife at her home in an eastern Arizona mountain community.
Michael Abatti, 63, made his first appearance Wednesday in Navajo County Superior Court after being extradited from El Centro, California, where he was arrested on an Arizona charge in the killing of Kerri Ann Abatti. She was found dead at a home in Pinetop, Arizona, where she moved after splitting with her husband.
While prosecutors say Michael Abatti is being held in the Navajo County jail on a $5.5 million bond, Owen Roth, one of his attorneys, said his client is able to post bond.
Investigators say Michael Abatti traveled from El Centro to Pinetop on Nov. 20, carried out the killing and returned to California early the next morning.
Kerri Abatti, a descendant of early Latter-day Saints settlers who helped found Pinetop in the 1880s, had filed for divorce, with proceedings pending in California at the time of her death.
Michael Abatti comes from a long line of farmers in the crop-rich Imperial Valley, which is the biggest user of Colorado River water and known for growing leafy greens, melons and forage crops. His grandfather, an Italian immigrant, was among the region’s early settlers and his father helped start the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association.
The couple, who married in 1992 and had three children, split in 2023 and were sparring over finances in their divorce proceedings.
In this photo provided by the Navajo County Sheriff's Office, Michael Abatti, center, is transported from the Imperial County Jail in El Centro, Calif., on Dec. 30, 2025. (Navajo County Sheriff's Office via AP)
Navajo County Sheriff's detectives search a property associated with Michael Abatti and his family in El Centro, Ariz., on Dec. 2, 2025, while investigating the murder of his estranged wife, Kerri Ann Abatti. (Camilo Garcia Jr./The Imperial Valley Press via AP)
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Bazoumana Touré scored in stoppage time as defending champion Ivory Coast recovered from a two-goal deficit to beat Gabon 3-2 on Wednesday in the Africa Cup of Nations, which now enters the knockout stage.
Christopher Opéri crossed for Touré to head in the winner as Les Éléphants staged a dramatic comeback to finish top of Group F, just ahead of Cameroon, by virtue of scoring a goal more than the Indomitable Lions.
Opéri had also set up fellow substitute Evann Guessand for the equalizer in the 84th minute.
Five-time winner Cameroon also came from behind to beat Mozambique 2-1 in the other group game.
Both Ivory Coast and Cameroon finished with seven points each, with a goal difference of plus 2, but Ivory Coast scored five goals, compared to Cameroon’s four.
Mozambique also progressed to the last 16 as one of the four best third-place finishers.
Gabon was already eliminated after starting with two defeats.
Ivory Coast stays in Marrakech after winning the group and will next face Burkina Faso in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Cameroon was dealt a tough encounter against South Africa in Rabat on Sunday, and Mozambique will face Nigeria the next day in Fez.
Despite a 2-0 loss to Burkina Faso in its final group game, Sudan can look forward to the knockout stage after qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers.
Both teams were already assured of advancing before their Group E match Wednesday. Sudan progressed despite the complication of playing all its qualification games away from home as the country contends with a brutal war and humanitarian crisis.
“This is good for all Sudanese,” said Sudan coach James Appiah, whose team next faces 2021 champion Senegal in the last 16 in Tangier on Saturday.
Burkina Faso made a better start and the Stallions duly took the lead through Lassina Traoré in the 16th.
Sudan had a great opportunity to level when Burkinabe ’keeper Hervé Koffi bundled over Al Gozoli Nooh in the penalty area, but Nooh missed the resulting spot kick.
The Sudanese fans, who were in a majority at the Stade Mohammed V stadium, tried rallying the team. Yasir Mozamil was just wide, and Amar Abdallah missed another good chance for Sudan.
Arsène Kouassi sealed the Stallions win with a late goal as Burkina Faso finished second in the group.
Algeria, already assured of topping the group, signed off before its last-16 meeting with Congo with a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea, which finished with three defeats.
Zineddine Belaid, Fares Chaibi and Ibrahim Maza scored in the first half for Algeria.
Veteran forward Emilio Nsue – playing for the first time legally in the Africa Cup – scored a brilliant consolation for the National Thunder in the second half. The 35-year-old Nsue was the top scorer at the last edition, but FIFA in 2024 ruled he was never eligible over his 11 years playing for Equatorial Guinea. He was finally cleared to play in March this year.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Evann Guessand celebrates after scoring during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast players celebrate after scoring a goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast fans cheer their team during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Ivory Coast's Bazoumana Touré scores during the Africa Cup of Nations group F soccer match between Gabon and Ivory Coast, in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
