Brett Parker Murder Trial Starts This Week

The trial for Brett Parker, an Irmo man accused of killing his wife and friend in his Ascot Estates home last year, starts this week.

Judge DeAndrea Benjamin denied a 30-day continuance request by Parker's attorneys during a hearing Monday, ABC Columbia reports. 

Parker's attorneys were seeking the delay in order to examine evidence they say prosecutors didn't provide to them in a timely manner, according to a report from The State (subscription required).

Parker is charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his wife, Tammy Jo Parker, and friend, Bryan Capnerhurst.

Both Tammy Jo Parker and Bryan Capnerhurst were found in the Parker's Tackeria Court home on April 13, 2012 with multiple gunshot wounds.  

Parker claims he shot Capnerhurst in self-defense. The defense has filed a motion claiming Parker acted in self defense when he shot Capnerhurst.

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Parker is one of three meen indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conduct of an illegal gambling business.

The murder trial is expected to last two weeks or more and prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole, The State reports.

Read more here.