Man Ordered To Stand Trial For 1995 Killing

The man accused of murdering a woman in Redding 25 years ago has been ordered to answer to all charges. In June of 1995, Christine Munro, a 37-year-old nurse and mother of four, was jogging on the Sacramento River Trail when she was pulled into the bushes, assaulted and murdered. In the weeks that followed, the river trail became deserted as the hunt for Munro’s killer went nowhere. A DNA sample from under Munro’s fingernails finally led to last year’s arrest of 43-year-old James Earl Watkins in a Texas prison. He was just 17-years-old when he lived in Redding in 1995 so he’s not eligible for the death penalty, but he could get life in prison without the possibility of parole. Evidence was reviewed during a 3 hour preliminary hearing Monday and a judge ordered Watkins held over for murder, as well as special allegations. He returns to court April 19th for setting of trial dates.

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