A jury trial for Shawn Ney, the Barton County man accused of shooting his estranged wife and fatally shooting Steven Calderwood with a shotgun last summer, is set to begin Jan. 9, 2012, in Barton County District Court. Ney, 33, is charged with the first-degree murder of Calderwood, and for attempted first-degree murder of Sarah Ney, on July 10, 2010. He is also charged with aggravated burglary, a charge that was added because he allegedly forced his way into the house at 48 NE 20 Road to commit those crimes.

After a preliminary hearing last November, Ney chose to "stand mute" at his arraignment, and Senior Judge Barry Bennington entered pleas of "not guilty" to all charges on his behalf.

At least two hearings will take place before the trial. There will be a motions hearing from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 20. A pre-trial conference has been set for 9 a.m. on Nov. 18, and is expected to be done by noon.

The case will be heard by District Judge Hannelore Kitts. The state is represented by Travis Harrod, assistant attorney general from the office of Attorney General Derek Schmidt, and Ney is represented by Robert Anderson of Ellinwood.