27 year-old Kevin Lino entered a plea of not guilty Tuesday morning in Missoula District Court to the murder of Gilbert Berry under the Reserve Street Bridge in late July.

Deputy County Attorney Jason Marks said that the investigation began when Berry's body was discovered floating in the Clark Fork River by a fisherman.

"The subsequent investigation led to him being charged with deliberate homicide," Marks said. "There are some co-defendants, Kenneth Hickman in particular, who are also charged in various aspects of the case. Lino is facing up to life in prison if he is found guilty of deliberate homicide."

Marks says Lino's next court date is January 13, 2015, and following that there will be a trial scheduling conference set for February 10.

Because Lino has entered a plea of not guilty, he will go to trial for the murder.

Court documents indicate that Lino and Kenneth Hickman beat Berry under the Reserve Street bridge, and then cut gang symbols into his body with a knife. It is alleged that Lino then shot Berry in the head with a 9 mm pistol and dumped his body in the Clark Fork River, where it was discovered by a fisherman several days later.

Lino's bail was continued at $250,000.

 

 

 

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