Canadian Wrestler's Ex-Wife Charged With His Murder

The ex-wife of former Canadian professional wrestler Ivan "The Croatian Giant" Radocaj (picture) has been charged with first degree murder in connection with his death.

Meldoy Lynn Sanford, 43, of Winnipeg has been in custody since January 2008 when she was charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Ironically, she was slated to appear in court Wednesday afternoon where she was going to enter guilty plea and receive sentencing on that charge.

According to the prosecutors on the case, it was the ongoing investigation of Radocaj's death that led to the upgrade in charges this week.

Radocaj died of blunt force trauma after being beaten in his home in September of 2007.

Sanford's friend, Rita Louise Cushnie, 53, was also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Three family members of Cushnie had previously been charged with first degree murder in the beating death.

Prosecutors contend that Sanford threatened to kill the former pro wrestler in the weeks leading up to his death.

The couple were married for only three weeks during the summer of 2007.

Radocaj's wrestling career spanned the early 1980s. He worked under a number of names including The Croatian Giant, Ivan the Giant, and Big John Radocaj.

Sanford filed a petition for a protection order against Radocaj, which was granted by the courts and banned the man from coming with 500 meters of her.

She claimed Radocaj was jealous of the time she was spending with friends, family and even her pets. "He was angry that I would cuddle with my cats," she wrote in her affidavit.