FAYETTEVILLE — A homeless man accused in a south Fayetteville stabbing death pleaded not guilty Friday in Washington County Circuit Court.
Jimmy Lee Hancock, 46, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, aggravated assault and terroristic threatening.
Police found the body of Anthony Dell Jackson, 58, under a pavilion around 11:15 p.m. Aug. 31 at Walker Park, 10 W. 15th St., according to a preliminary police report. The death was violent, police said.
Jackson had been stabbed around the neck and head, police spokesman Sgt. Craig Stout said.
A witness told police Hancock had been involved in an aggravated assault and terroristic threatening incident earlier Monday, before the killing happened, according to the report. The witness said Hancock held a knife to the witness’s chest because he refused to drink with Hancock.The witness described a knife similar to what was recovered by where the man was killed, according to the report.
The witness said Hancock told him: “Anyone who quits drinking deserves to die!” according to the report.
Hancock was given a Nov. 24 trial date. First-degree murder is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.