A former Mississippi police officer accused of murder appeared in court Monday to officially face murder charges. He pleaded not guilty to shooting a woman in the back of the head while she slept.

Former Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne was charged with murder after 32-year-old Dominque Clayton was found dead on Sunday.

Kinne and Clayton reportedly had been romantically involved with one another.

Clayton was found dead in her residence in the Brittany Woods subdivision of Oxford on May 19.

Kinne, a former Oxford Police officer, was formally charged with murder and made his first court appearance on May 22. He was terminated from the Oxford Police Department on May 23.

Members of Clayton’s family were in attendance during Monday’s proceedings, including Reggie and Carolyn Clayton.

“(Clayton’s) kids are having a tough time,” Reggie said when asked how the family is holding up. “The holidays are going to be approaching. It’s going to be the first time they’ve spent the holidays without their mom. She’s missing their football season, first day of school.”

With a capital murder charge comes the possibility of the death penalty. The Clayton family is in support of Kinne receiving the death penalty if convicted, Carolyn said.

“He needs the death penalty because he gave it to her,” Carolyn said. “I support (the death penalty) now, to the fullest.”

Lafayette County Circuit Court’s final trial term of 2019 begins Oct. 7 and runs through Oct. 25. It is unknown if Kinne’s case will be heard this year or not. Farese declined to give a comment at the conclusion of the arraignment.