Scot in US court accused of killing his mum and dad
Found dead at their home
THE trial of a Scots former soldier accused of shooting dead his mother and stepfather in the US is expected to begin within two weeks.
Derek Connell, 33, is alleged to have murdered Kim Higginbotham and her American husband Christopher.
The couple, both 48, were found dead in their home in Bakersfield, California, on
April 30, 2016. Connell, originally from Shawlands, Glasgow, was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered.
Appearing at Kern County Superior Court in Bakersfield on Tuesday, he was asked to confirm his name before Judge John Brownlee outlined the timetable for his trial.
Judge Brownlee said the court will hear pre-trial motions this week and choose a jury next week.
He estimated that the prosecution would make its opening statement a week later, on or after January 27.
The judge said the motion hearings will deal with various evidentiary matters, including how many of the almost 2,000 photos of the crime scene the prosecution says it has will be allowed to be presented as evidence.
He added that the fact the case has received ‘a fair bit’ of media coverage would be a factor in juror selection.
The trial is likely to last more than one month.
Mrs Higginbotham, also from Glasgow, was a kindergarten teacher. Her husband worked at a power plant.
Police have said in previous court files that Connell used FaceTime to send a video of the bodies to a relative who lived outside the country and who contacted police. He is said to have told the relative he found the couple dead upon entering the home.
However, when interviewed by detectives he is alleged to have said: ‘I think it was me, but I don’t know how.’
Investigators seized two shotguns, five handguns and seven rifles from the home. Connell said they belonged to his stepfather, papers state.
His lawyer, Paul Cadman, has previously said Connell suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and other medical conditions stemming from his years serving in the US Army in Iraq.
Connell lived in Scotland as a child. His mother met his stepfather while he was serving with the US Navy in Scotland and the family moved to the US more than 20 years ago.
Prosecutors earlier dropped a request for the death penalty, so Connell faces life imprisonment without parole if convicted.