A Jamaican woman who allegedly doused her husband with hot cooking oil and chased him with an axe because he served her with divorce papers, entered a not guilty plea when she appeared in Superior Court in Somerville, New Jersey, last Friday.

According to a report on nj.com, the accused Mauvette Mattandeen has been charged with the attempted murder of her 53-year-old husband, Leacroft Mattandeen.

The April 6 incident reportedly left Mattadeen with severe burns to his arms, torso, neck and face.

Consequently, on June 14, the Jamaican was indicted by a Grand Jury.

During the arraignment, the prosecutor told the court that Mattandeen was sleeping in the couple's Franklin Township apartment a little before 9 a.m. when his 41-year-old wife sprayed an unknown chemical in his face, creating a burning sensation that sent him running to the shower.

As he tried to rinse the chemical out of his eyes, his wife allegedly returned with a pot of scalding cooking oil and dumped it on him before chasing him with an axe.

He was able to disarm her and was flown to Saint Barnabas Medical Centre in Livingston where he was treated.

According to court documents filed in Somerville, the woman told her husband that "if she could not have him, no one else would."

Her attorney Alan Peyrouton said that, as disturbing as the prosecution's allegations might be, there is a second version of the incident.

"We're looking forward to our day in court when we can present our side," he said.

THE STAR has learnt that attempted murder convictions in New Jersey carry a maximum of 30 years in prison and a minimum of 10 years.

Assistant Somerset County Prosecutor Robert Hawkes said the state has recommended a 25-year plea deal.

In the meantime, Mattandeen is scheduled to return to court on August 24 for a status hearing.