Man accused of killing his landlord with an axe pleads not guilty

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — A Portsmouth man facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of his landlord pleaded not guilty to all counts on Thursday.

Jacob Morrill, 25, was held without bail again at his arraignment in Newport County Superior Court.

Morrill is accused of killing his landlord and leading Portsmouth police to where he did the body in a tarp in the woods.

Police were called to a home on West Main Road just after 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 22.

Authorities said Morrill got into an argument with his landlord, Xue Feng Wu, in the garage. Morrill is accused of fatally hitting him with a small handheld axe.

Police said Morrill then moved the body to the woods and later called 911, telling dispatch that he struck and killed Wu.

Morrill has a pre-trial conference set for Sept. 28.