A 73 year-old Watertown man accused of fatally shooting his long-ago classmate in what may have been an old grudge pleaded not guilty during his court appearance Thursday.
Carl Ericsson is charged with first degree murder in the January 31 killing of retired Madison High School teacher and track coach Norman Johnson.
Ericsson was indicted by a grand jury on Tuesday.
The 72 year-old Johnson was shot twice in the face after answering the door at his house in Madison. Johnson's wife, Barbara, found him lying on the floor and saw a man walking to a car parked outside.
Ericsson's brother said in an affidavit that Ericsson was a sports manager at Madison High years ago and there was an incident in which Johnson did something to him.
Ericsson's trial is set to begin on July 19th, with a motion hearing on May 1st.
