Kenneth Jernigan Georgia brother accused of the murder of one of his two triplet brothers claims stabbing was accident – had only meant to hug him while cooking.
A Georgia triplet accused of fatally stabbing one of his brothers last Tuesday says the stabbing was a mistake and he only meant to hug his brother as the pair were cooking.
Kenneth Jernigan, 36, of Columbus, made his first court appearance Thursday after telling police he accidentally killed his brother, Kevin Jernigan. Jernigan was charged last week with murder and possession of a knife during the commission of a crime WTVM reported.
The accused man pled not guilty to the charges, with police reporting that Kenneth claiming he did not intend to kill, or even injure, his brother.
Columbus Police Department Cpl. Matt Sitler says Kenneth Jernigan told officers they were in the kitchen making food when he went to hug Kevin Jernigan, but instead stabbed him.
Sitler says the evidence doesn’t support Kenneth Jernigan’s story. Sitler says autopsy results are still pending. The victim sustained one stab wound.
The murder weapon was described as being a kitchen knife.
The third triplet brother was reportedly at home during the incident, but did not witness anything.
Police have placed Kenneth Jernigan on suicide watch. The case was bound over to Superior Court.
