CAMDEN -- The man accused of killing a Camden grocery-store clerk will face a December trial date in his September jail escape, according to the 13th Judicial Circuit prosecuting attorney's office.
Austin Hill, 20, made a brief court appearance Thursday on charges of second-degree escape related to his September run from the Ouachita County jail.
He also faces capital murder and aggravated assault charges in the 2014 robbery and fatal shooting of Mac's Fresh Market manager Richard Anders, 63.
Hill was re-arrested Sept. 14 in Bryant after authorities said he escaped from the sallyport area of the Ouachita County jail Sept. 9. After his escape, police said Hill stole a 1962 Ford Galaxie from Woods Place Restaurant at 1137 Washington St. in Camden, then drove to the Bryant area before the vehicle ran out of gas on an Interstate 30 exit ramp.
In addition to his escape charge, Hill will face theft charges involving the car, along with burglary charges for breaking into another business during his brief stint out of jail, prosecutors said.
These charges will be part of his trial, prosecutors said. An exact date has not been set, and prosecutors have not set a date for his murder trial.
Hill's co-defendant, Jaquestin Anderson, 20, was charged with accomplice to capital murder and accomplice to aggravated robbery.
According to prosecutors, both men signed affidavits that corroborated their parts in the shooting.
The affidavit said Hill explained he parked his vehicle on a dead-end street at an abandoned residence behind the store and waited for Anderson, who worked at the grocery store, to call him when Anders was ready to deposit the store's money. Hill said Anderson called him and said "Go," the affidavit said.
Hill said he then met Anders at the front corner of the building and said "give me the money," and Anders replied "no," the document said. Hill said he attempted to fire his gun in an area next to Anders to scare him but accidentally shot Anders instead, according to the affidavit.
The court docket states that Anderson appeared in court earlier this month and was released on an "agreed order, pending trial."
Ouachita County Prosecuting Attorney David Butler said Anderson was released into the custody of out-of-state relatives for his safety, adding that he will "be an important witness in [Hill's] trial."
Anderson and Hill are both face a potential sentence of life in prison.
State Desk on 11/13/2015