Man accused of tying up wife, killing her parents will appear in court

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man accused of tying up and terrorizing his wife and killing her parents is expected to enter a plea Thursday in court.

Vurnel Smith is facing the death penalty in the 2017 case.

[RELATED: Man accused of tying up wife, killing her parents will face death penalty]

Prosecutors said Smith tied up his wife and assaulted her for days before he beat her parents to death in their north Charlotte home in July 2017.

(

Vurnel

 Smith)

After his wife finally escaped, police found her 69-year-old father’s body in the trunk of the car she drove to the hospital.

The case is one of the few in Mecklenburg County where the suspect is facing the death penalty. Prosecutors asked for it because of the gruesome and gut-wrenching aspect of the crime.

(Rufus Gordon and Jacqueline Gordon-White)

During Smith’s last court hearing, a year ago, prosecutors said it appeared he appeared to have two different personalities, and the judge ordered psychological testing for him.

[RELATED: Double homicide suspect claims he blacked out, has no recollection of crime]

Channel 9 will have a crew in the courthouse Thursday, check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this case.

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