Brian Martin enters not guilty plea

COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) - The man accused of killing two people, including a Sheffield Police Officer, appeared before a judge Thursday.

Brian Martin is accused of shooting and killing officer Nick Risner and his longtime friend, William Mealback in October. A second officer was also wounded in the incident.

Martin pleaded not guilty or not guilty by mental defect to all counts on Thursday morning.

Attorney Rebecca Green Thomason is now representing Martin. She said Martin could have waived Thursday’s arraignment, but said that Martin wanted to be there to plead not guilty in person.

The arraignment is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. in Colbert County. Previously, the Colbert County DA’s Office said it plans to pursue the death penalty against Martin. WAFF reached out to the prosecutors for an update and has not heard back yet.

[ READ MORE: Colbert County DA’s Office seeking the death penalty in officer-involved shooting case ]

This all stems from a shootout on Oct. 1, 2021. Prosecutors say Martin killed his friend, William Mealback, then shot at the officers who were called to the scene. On Jan. 7, Brian Martin was indicted on three counts of capital murder, three counts of attempt to commit murder, three counts of shooting or discharging a firearm into an occupied automobile and one count of certain persons forbidden to possess a pistol.

[ READ MORE: Grand jury indicts man accused of killing Sheffield Police officer ]

Martin is being held in the Morgan County Jail. WAFF 48′s Kailey Schuyler will be in the courtroom for this hearing and bring you updates.

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