Man accused of killing his girlfriend makes first appearance in court

The man accused of shooting and killing his girlfriend after she refused to have sex with him made his first appearance in court Monday.

Parley Jeff Dutson, 18, was charged in West Jordan's 3rd District Court with criminal homicide and aggravated sexual assault, both first-degree felonies, in the death of 15-year-old Kara Hopkins.

Hopkins and Dutson were at a party April 7 at the Willow Cove apartments near 9300 S. Redwood Road. Dutson, who had been smoking marijuana according to witnesses, became angry at Hopkins when she refused his advances.

When a security guard entered the apartment after Hopkins was shot, he found her with most of her clothes ripped off and Dutson next to her in his underwear saying he wanted to have sex with her until she was dead, according to court documents.

Monday, wearing a blue jump suit from the Salt Lake County Jail, orange sneakers and his hands and legs in shackles, Dutson answered "yes" and "no" to standard questions Judge Royal Hansen asked all defendants such as the need for a court-appointed attorney.

Bail was set at $500,000.

The court said it would appoint an attorney for Dutson. His next court appearance was scheduled for April 26.

No friends or family members of either Dutson or Hopkins appeared to be at Monday's brief hearing.

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