Yep he tried to kill her one way (bashing her head, maybe pushing her down and causing her to hit her head).... and when she didn't die he strangled her. Everything he did after that was some bullshirt attempt to make it seem like it wasn't in cold blood or that he didn't do it. Sorry, doesn't add up, not even a little. He killed her in cold blood and his family helped him try to cover his tracks and spin the story.