Burrell Michael Cushman pled not guilty to murdering his ex-girlfriend, Kirkland resident Amy Hargrove, at his court appearance Tuesday at the King County Courthouse.

Cushman was charged with second degree murder in July for allegedly strangling Hargrove to death in her mother’s home in January. At the time Hargrove had a protection order filed against him.

A case setting hearing is scheduled for Aug. 5 at the King County Courthouse. Bail for Cushman has been set at $1.5 million.

Prior to being charged in Hargrove’s murder, Cushman was arrested in June after Seattle police were contacted about a possible domestic violence incident. Cushman and his pregnant girlfriend live in a home in Seattle on the same block where search warrants were served in Hargrove’s murder.