TORONTO (Reuters) - A Toronto-area man, already serving a four-year sentence for plotting to kill his ex-wife to get out of paying child and spousal support, is now using his incarceration as an excuse to avoid the payments.

Ronald Schulz pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit murder, admitting he hired a hitman to break his ex-wife's neck. The "hitman" was in fact an undercover police officer, and Schulz ended up in prison.

In court this week, however, Schulz argued he still can't pay for support due to his incarceration, an argument that his ex-wife's lawyer called the ultimate in audacity.

"Chutzpah is the expression," said Marvin Kurz, who is representing the intended victim Sheryl Janssen.

"It's like the child who kills the parents and then throws himself at the mercy of the court because he's an orphan... that's really what he did," he told Reuters Tuesday.

While the imprisoned Schulz no longer has a steady job, he does have about C$110,000 ($98,000) from selling his house, according to court documents.

An Ontario Superior Court judge reserved his decision on the matter Monday, but said he plans to award a substantial lump-sum payment to Janssen, who is raising two children on her own, and has yet to see any money from Schulz.

She is also unable to work because of trauma caused by Schulz's actions, her lawyer said.

The judge is expected to hand down his decision in a week or so.