An Alabama man accused of beating a man to death with a shovel is expected to go on trial this week.

Morgan Barnhill, 29, of Mobile, is accused of brutally beating to death Etienne Murray, 25, at Barnhill’s residence in March 2022, using a shovel.

Police were called to Barnhill’s residence to investigate what was initially described as suspicious circumstances.

Barnhill told police he caught Murray trying to break into a shed and that he hit him with the shovel to stop the burlar.

Murray was alive when police got to the scene, but died a few days later in a Mobile hospital.