A change of plea hearing has been scheduled for April 12 in district court in Ward County for Erik Steven Rod, 43, who has been charged with Class AA felony murder in the shooting death of his wife, Connie Elizabeth Rod, 37, on May 21, 2020, in Minot, and with Class C felony reckless endangerment in connection with the same incident.

Rod has said the shooting was an accident while the prosecution has asserted that the shooting was not accidental.

A jury trial has been scheduled for April 25, but online court records show that Rod’s attorney filed a motion on March 16 to cancel the trial and requested a change of plea hearing before Judge Gary Lee.