Man charged in SC girl’s killing expected in court

CHESNEE, S.C. (AP) — A man accused of shooting an 8-year-old Chesnee girl to get back at his wife for leaving him is expected in court.

WSPA-TV reports (http://bit.ly/QWBEn0 ) that a hearing is scheduled Monday in Spartanburg in the case against Ricky Lee Blackwell.

Blackwell was arrested in 2009 and charged with murder in the death of Heather Brooke Center.

Authorities say Blackwell put the girl in a headlock, then shot her in the head and fired three more shots into her as she fell. The girl was the daughter of Blackwell’s estranged wife’s boyfriend.

Authorities said Blackwell also shot himself in the stomach.

Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty if Blackwell is convicted.

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Information from: WSPA-TV, http://www.wspa.com