Trial date set for man accused of shooting wife

COEUR d’ALENE — A 74-year-old man accused of shooting his wife will face a jury trial in April.

The man has pleaded not guilty to aggravated battery and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, and to possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

He is being held on $1 million bail.

The charges stem from Oct. 11, when police responded around 1:20 a.m. to a report of a domestic dispute involving a gun at a Fernan Hill residence.

Police found a 65-year-old woman on the front porch. She had a gunshot wound in her abdomen, according to documents, and indicated that her husband of 39 years had shot her.

She was transported to Kootenai Health, where she had surgery.

Judge Cynthia Meyer denied a request last week to release the man on his own recognizance.

The three-day jury trial is scheduled to begin April 5.