Man accused of killing ex-girlfriend and her father hires attorney

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and her father was a no-show in court on Friday.

Jaylan McCollins is facing charges for the double deadly shooting that claimed the lives of Anthonese Stewart and her father Gary Newman.

The family of the victims will have to wait several more weeks to learn what will happen next, to the man charged with the double murder.

This was 28-year-old Jaylan McCollins at the end of August in court with counsel nearby.

Sitting in for Judge Greg Gilbert on Friday was Judicial Commissioner Kathy Kirk Johnson.

The public defender appointed to the case was in court, but McCollins switched things up by hiring his own attorney, who was also present.

Despite the changes, what remains the same is the devastation left in the wake of the violent attack McCollins is accused of.

Detectives say in July, Anthonese Stewart was shot to death by her ex-boyfriend, McCollins. Anthonese’s father, Gary Newman was also fatally shot, after detectives say he tried helping his daughter.

McCollins, who was spotted on the home security camera fighting with Anthonese before the attack, went on the run and was not spotted again until his arrest more than a month after the killing.

The victim’s family will have to wait a little while longer to learn what’s next. Keep in mind it took 49 days after the double deadly shooting to bring the accused into custody. Yet another delay after a change of counsel.

McCollins is set to return on September 27. He is still in custody and was told during his last court appearance that this could be a death penalty case.

We could learn more at his scheduled preliminary hearing later this month.

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