The Oxford man accused of killing his estranged wife and seriously wounding her mother during a shooting last month pleaded not guilty in the case at Superior Court in Milford Tuesday (June 3).
Scott Gellatly, 46, appeared briefly Tuesday before Judge Frank Iannotti, where he also waived his right to a probable cause hearing at which a prosecutor would have had to present evidence showing Gellatly killed his wife.
The judge continued the case to July 30.
Gellatly has been behind bars on bonds totaling more than $2 million since his arrest hours after police said he shot his wife and his mother-in-law in a Sioux Drive home about 5:45 a.m. May 7.
Gellatly’s wife, Lori, was pronounced dead soon after the shooting.
Lori’s mother, Merry Jackson, was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in critical condition but has since been sent home.
After a statewide manhunt, police said Gellatly was found in a vehicle at an defunct fast food restaurant near Route 8 in Winsted with the vehicle running and a hose leading from its exhaust pipe to one of its windows.
State police charged Gellatly with murder, attempted murder, first-degree assault of an elderly person, and two counts each of reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.
On Tuesday State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor filed additional charges against Gellatly in the case — two counts of home invasion, and single counts of first-degree burglary and first-degree robbery.
In court Tuesday, Gellatly stood calmly next to his lawyer, Public Defender David Egan, wearing a green prison jumpsuit with his hands cuffed in front of him as Judge Iannotti asked him several questions to make sure he understood the proceeding.
State law gives anyone charged with murder the right to a hearing within 60 days at which a prosecutor would have to show a judge evidence there is probable cause to believe the person charged is guilty.
But defendants routinely waive their rights to such hearings, as Gellatly did Tuesday.
“What you are telling the court is, you’re saying ‘Judge, I agree there’s probable cause for the state to proceed with the charge of murder.’ You understand that?” Judge Iannotti asked Gellatly in court.
“Yes, your honor,” Gellatly replied.
If Gellatly opts to take the case to trial, Judge Iannotti told him, he can be tried by a 12-member jury or a panel of three judges.
Judge Iannotti also granted two motions from Lawlor to have state troopers take DNA swabs of Gellatly’s cheek at the courthouse Tuesday. Egan did not object to the motions.
In addition to the charges relating to the shooting, Gellatly is also charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct in connection with a domestic incident with his wife about a month before the shooting.
