Four males — one only 13 years old — pleaded not guilty to killing Bermudian Sherlene 'Star' Church and her husband Jerry Church, in a Harris County, Georgia Court yesterday.

The couple were found beaten to death in their home after Police picked-up four men driving vehicles that belonged to them on June 29 this year.

Yesterday in Harris Superior Court, Gage Q Bryant, 13, Derek Mitchell Cox, 19, Richard J. Strickland Jr, 16 and Kevin Thomas McKay, 21, all pleaded not guilty to the murder, aggravated assault, battery, robbery, burglary and theft of the couple during an arraignment session.

The two minors, Bryant and Strickland, will be tried as adults and a fifth man, Joshua Douglas Pounds, 23, also appeared with the four, but was not charged with the murders.

Pounds pleaded not guilty to theft, burglary, and two counts of concealing the death of another person.

All of these charges are said to have happened on June 27 of this year. They are scheduled to appear in court on the trial dockets on Monday, September 29.

Mrs Church, who is best known as Star Swan (her nickname and maiden name) married Jerry Church last December and was known around the Island as an entertainer.

She had lived in the States for more than 30 years, though, originally from Pembroke and had been educated at Prospect Secondary School. Mrs. Church had been in semi-retirement after working in a nursing home.

Mr. Church was said to be a retired Vietnam vet and a quiet man who was very generous, according to neighbours.

When Harris County Sheriff's deputies arrived at their home on the Sunday afternoon to inform the couple that their car had been stolen and wrecked in a drunk-driving accident, they discovered the bodies of the couple.

Mike Jolley, Harris County Sheriff, said there was blood on the screen door and a body on the floor. Another body was later discovered in the living room. There were no signs of life. Swan and Church had both been beaten to death, the sheriff added.