| Updated: 4/23/2012 10:18 am |
Published: 4/23/2012 7:45 am
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OKEMAH, Okla. (AP) - An Okmulgee man accused in the deaths of two Weleetka girls had a preliminary hearing in connection with a separate murder charge passed on Monday morning.
Kevin Sweat was charged in December with first-degree murder in the June 2008 deaths of 13-year-old Taylor Placker and 11-year-old Skyla Whitaker. An affidavit says Sweat told an investigator he saw "'two monsters' come at him" and shot them with .40- and .22-caliber handguns.
Sweat already was in custody in the unrelated death of his girlfriend, Ashley Taylor, who disappeared after telling her parents she was eloping with Sweat.
Sweat has pleaded not guilty to three first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The hearing has been rescheduled to May 22nd. Defense attorneys need more time to go through 1,000 pages of discovery documents.
