Murder suspect appears in court

An officer in the Callaway County courtroom asks a bystander to put away his cell phone camera as Sandra Plunkett is brought out by officials Friday morning for her arraignment.
An officer in the Callaway County courtroom asks a bystander to put away his cell phone camera as Sandra Plunkett is brought out by officials Friday morning for her arraignment.

FULTON - Sandra Plunkett was arraigned Friday at the Callaway County Courthouse on a first-degree murder charge in the killing of her husband, Paul Plunkett.

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The 37-year-old Holts Summit woman - who is accused of shooting her 52-year-old husband, a former Jefferson City police officer, on New Year's Day - is being represented by public defender Justin Carver.

On Friday, Judge Carol England sustained Carver's motion to preserve evidence in the case after Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Wilson made no objection.

Wilson said Carver's motion to preserve evidence was to make sure the handwritten notes taken by law enforcement during the murder investigation would be maintained as evidence.

Authorities said Plunkett confessed to shooting her husband in the back of the head during an interrogation. Her attorney confirmed she is being held at Callaway County Jail.

Plunkett's next court appearance is set for Feb. 18.

"The case will get set for a preliminary hearing probably on that date," Wilson said. He said he expects the preliminary hearing won't be until March or April.

Immediately after the arraignment, Wilson left the courtroom to go into a private meeting with members of Paul Plunkett's family.

"They wanted to be kept advised of how the case proceeds," he said.