TULSA, Okla., April 16 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma judge entered not guilty pleas for two suspects accused of a racially motivated shooting spree that killed three black men and wounded two.
Alvin Lee Watts, 33, and Jacob Carl England, 19, who are identified as white in court documents, appeared before Judge William Hiddle Monday through a video link connecting the Tulsa Jail where they're being held and the Tulsa County Courthouse.
As a matter of routine procedure, Hiddle entered pleas on behalf of both men who are charged with murder and hate crimes allegedly committed in Tulsa, Okla., on Good Friday, the Tulsa World reported.
Hiddle also set May 30 as the date for their preliminary hearing when the prosecutors will be expected to show probable cause why the men should be tried.
Watts and England are charged with three counts of murder, two counts of shooting with intent to kill and five counts of malicious harassment, which means the suspects picked out their victims on the basis of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin or disability.
Authorities allege the suspects drove through north Tulsa on the night of April 6 randomly shooting at black men and killing Dannaer Fields, 49, Bobby Clark, 54, and William Allen, 31. David Hall, 46, and Deon Tucker, 44, were also shot but survived their wounds, the World reported.
The prosecution is expected to produce police reports in which Watts and England allegedly confessed to the crimes.
Based on police reports, "the evidence includes admissions by both defendants as to their involvement in the three murder charges and the two SWIK [shooting with intent to kill] charges," a court document filed by First Assistant District Attorney Doug Drummond said.
