Bollinger County murder case bound over for trial

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Bollinger County judge found probable cause Monday to proceed with the murder case against Lonnie Liley.

Liley, 42, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the Jan. 23 shooting death of his brother, 50-year-old Jessie Liley.

At a preliminary hearing Monday morning, Associate Judge Scott Thomsen found probable cause to bind the case over for trial.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, Lonnie Liley told a Bollinger County detective he shot his brother in self-defense.

Witnesses told police Jessie Liley was upset because he believed his brother had threatened his girlfriend's son with a gun, and he had gone to Lonnie Liley's home to talk to him, the affidavit stated.

Friends of Jessie Liley have said he was not prone to violence. They described him as a good man and a devoted father who went out of his way to help others.

Lonnie Liley's account of the shooting and the events leading up to it contained several inconsistencies, according to the affidavit.

Lonnie Liley initially told a detective he did not have a gun before the shooting, but he later admitted he had an AK-47 in his possession when the son of his brother's girlfriend came over, the affidavit stated.

He "stated that he was not carrying it around with any intentions," according to the affidavit.

Four hours after the shooting -- which was reported about 9:30 a.m. -- Lonnie Liley provided a breath sample that showed his blood alcohol content was 0.152, although he had told police he hadn't consumed any alcohol since before midnight, the affidavit stated.

Online court records show the case is set for arraignment at 9 a.m. March 14.

Pertinent address:

Marble Hill, Mo.