POLSON – One of two men charged for his role in the killing of a 73-year-old St. Ignatius man nearly five years ago has pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide.
Clifford Oldhorn entered his plea in District Court in Polson on Wednesday.
Oldhorn is charged in the July 2005 death of Harold Mitchell Jr., whose body was found in his burned trailer house.
Prosecutors say the fire was set to cover up the killing. Mitchell died of a knife wound to the neck that severed his carotid artery.
A co-defendant, 21-year-old Nathan Ross, has pleaded not guilty to deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence. Charging documents implicate two other men in the killing. They are in custody on other charges.