A Sumner man accused of killing another man from the area has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Twenty-five-year-old Lawrence Hamby, who is being held in prison on a probation violation, allegedly killed 52-year-old Paul McKinney.

McKinney’s body was found in his Sumner home in January of 2006. McKinney died of head, neck and chest trauma. Hamby apparently was a friend of McKinney’s son and was initially considered a material witness in the murder investigation.

A trial date for Hamby has not been set.