Courtney Lockhart, who is charged in the shooting death of Lauren Burk, appeared in court in Lee County Alabama Monday. Burk graduated from Walton High School in Marietta. Dressed in white jail garb, his wrists were shackled to a chain around his waist and after he was escorted into the courtroom by deputies, he was pointed to a chair where he sat down. Several of Lockhart's relatives cried quietly during the court proceeding.

Circuit Court Judge Jacob Walker read the evidence against Lockhart, painting an outline of what investigators say happened to Burk.

Police say Lockhart confessed to kidnapping Burk from the AU campus, robbing her of her iPod and debit card and driving her around in her car. Later, after forcing her to undress, he shot her.

"I just feel that based on what I do know, when the appropriate time and place comes of course in a court of law, the evidence will support the accusations," says Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.

Lockhart, who was arrested on capital murder charges, was accused of kidnapping, robbery and attempted rape. Police say Burk was not sexually assaulted.

She was found last Tuesday night on the side of a road about five miles from campus, suffering from a gunshot wound. She died later at a hospital. Her 2001 Honda Civic was found that night burning in a campus parking lot.

Lockhart served with the Army in Iraq from August 2004 to July 2005. At Fort Carson, in 2006, he was convicted on military charges of communicating a threat and use of marijuana as well as assault on another person in the military, said Maj. Nathan Banks, an Army spokesman at the Pentagon. Lockhart was sentenced to seven months' confinement and given a bad conduct discharge.

Monday, 10 March 2008