Trial to Start for Man Accused of Attacking Ex-Wife with Ax

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect a change in the day the trial is to start.

The attempted murder trial for Aco "Alex" Simonoski is set to start on Wednesday, April 4.

The trial had been delayed while Simonoski underwent psychological testing, but it is expected to get underway next week in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Ron Suster's courtroom, according to Maria Russo, spokeswoman for Prosecutor Bill Mason.

He is charged in in which he allegedly hit his ex-wife, Milka, in the head with an ax.

Milka from her wounds, according to daughter Bilyana, who was also injured in the incident.

"She's been doing much better these past couple weeks and hopefully going into a more specialized therapy program," Bilyana said in an e-mail.

The family has been pushing for the maximum sentence -- 18 years -- for Aco, 52, who has remained in jail on $500,000 bond.

Bilyana told Strongsville Patch in November that.

She said this week the family is anxiously awaiting the trial.

"It is just so important to us to get justice for our mom and we want the judge to realize the magnitude of all of this," she wrote in the e-mail.

Police and prosecutors say Aco and Milka were divorced, but had been trying to reconcile. They argued Aug. 21 when Milka said Aco should move out of the house Milka rented on Hollo Oval.

Milka and Bilyana, who is the oldest of the couple's three children, went out for the day and returned that evening to find Aco waiting.

The argument resumed and Aco went to the garage for an ax and hit Milka in the head.

Bilyana intervened and was struck in the hand with the ax, causing a laceration and broken bones. She has since undergone surgery and physical therapy.

Aco then went back and hit Milka, who was lying motionless on the floor, a second time with the ax.

As Bilyana again struggled with her father to keep him from hitting her mother a third time, their fight spilled into the garage, where neighbor Tom Drost heard her screaming for help.

Drost called 911 and ran over to restrain Aco until police and paramedics arrived.

The family had lived on Hollo Oval about seven months. Before that, they lived in Brunswick, where the children attended Brunswick High School.

Bilyana, who graduated a year ago from Ashland University, and her younger siblings, Vesna and Alex, with supporting themselves while dealing with their mother's recovery and legal issues. 

Neighbors and friends have helped with fundraisers.