COVINGTON, Ga. - Attorneys involved in the case of the State of Georgia against James Gary Hill III announced "Ready for trial" after a hearing Tuesday afternoon in front of Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. 

Assistant District Attorney Amber Bennett, who serves as co-counsel along with ADA Candice Branche, representing the state, and Public Defender Anthony Carter, who represents Hill, agreed that both parties are ready for the trial, which is scheduled to start with jury selection Monday, July 15. 

Hill faces charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault. Bennett said the maximum sentence for these crimes is a life sentence without the possibility of parole. 

Hill is accused of killing 27-year-old Kelly Marshall and leaving her body under the Mount Tabor Road bridge next to the Yellow River Aug. 12, 2017. He has been jailed since his arrest the following day on traffic charges after running from deputies in Walton County and is currently housed at Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison because his probation for a previous conviction was revoked. 

In December 2017 Newton County Coroner Tommy Davis said an autopsy determined that Marshall’s manner of death was homicide caused by asphyxia. Investigators with the Newton County Sheriff’s Office later determined that there was enough probable cause to charge Hill with the murder.

The Covington News will provide live stream coverage of the trial after jury selection is completed. During Tuesday's hearing, Johnson said jury selection should be completed Monday, July 15 and the trial should start Tuesday, July 16.