BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - A south-central Montana man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a deliberate homicide charge that alleges he killed his ex-girlfriend last week by beating and stabbing her.
Steven Craig Phillips, 37, entered his plea in District Court in Billings for the death last Friday of Jennifer McCollum, 34, in Ballantine, which is northeast of Billings.
District Judge Michael Moses set bail at $1 million, The Billings Gazette reported. The defense did not contest the amount.
McCollum’s current boyfriend said Philips had been harassing her since they broke up a month ago and threatened to break into her house to kill her and her children, court records said.
Phillips lived with his mother, next door to McCollum’s residence.
His mother called 911 early on May 15 after Phillips awakened her covered in blood. She said her intoxicated son had asked her the night before: “Do you know how easy it would be for me to kill you now?” court records said.
McCollum’s children, ages 9, 3 and 10 months, were at home when officers arrived.
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