Preliminary hearing set for defendant in Scopus killing

Lisa Barlow, the defendant accused of murdering her boyfriend, Michael Strong, pled not guilty to the charges Wednesday morning at the Bollinger County Courthouse in Marble Hill, Mo.

Associate Circuit Judge Scott E. Thomsen set the preliminary hearing for Barlow at Sept. 28, 2007 at 9 a.m.

The 42-year-old woman faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the July 27 killing.

Barlow was at the Scopus residence she shared with Strong when he was shot to death in the living room. She told police she hid under the bed and called 911 when she heard intruders break in. After an investigation by the Cape Girardeau County-Bollinger County Major Case Squad highlighted several problems with Barlow's story, they arrested her on Aug. 1.