Tyler

By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer

A Smith County murder defendant appeared in court Thursday and received a July trial date.

Michael Scott Hudnall, 39, Frankston, is charged with murder for allegedly shooting JoAnna Marie Jones, 37, to death before turning the gun on himself outside a Tyler business Nov. 25.

Tyler police said Hudnall fatally shot Ms. Jones outside the entrance of one of the buildings of Chicago Bridge & Iron. The firm, commonly referred to as CB&I, is at 3102 E. Fifth St. The defendant was hospitalized with nonlife- threatening injuries after shooting himself in the jaw.

Ms. Jones was an employee at CB&I, and Hudnall worked for the company at another location, police said. The two reportedly had an ongoing relationship.

Defense attorney Joshua Wintters is representing Hudnall in 241st District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.'s court. If convicted of murder, a first-degree felony, the defendant faces a range of sentences from five years to life in prison.

Skeen set Hudnall's trial date for July 13.

The attorneys took up other routine matters during the pre-trial hearing Thur-sday.

Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham said on Wednesday, authorities intercepted a "fairly incriminating" letter Hudnall wrote to murder defendant Bradley Allen Collins, 23, in the Smith County Jail.