COLUMBIANA – The jury trial of a man accused of murdering his long-time friend and business partner in North Shelby County in 2016 has been scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, according to court records.

Adam Michael Burrus, 39, of Birmingham was arrested on Dec. 15, 2016, and charged with the murder of Constance Leigh Woolweaver, who was found dead the day before in her home in Highland Lakes.

Burrus was released from the Shelby County Jail on Dec. 19, 2016, on a $500,000 bond.

A grand jury returned an indictment against Burrus on Oct. 18, 2017, and the defendant pleaded not guilty on Nov. 28, 2017.

At the time of the arrest, police described Burrus and Woolweaver as long-time friends and business partners.

Shelby County Sheriff John Samaniego previously said investigators developed Burrus as a person of interest on the morning of Dec. 15, 2016, and contacted him at his business in Sterrett.

Burrus willingly met with investigators, who determined probable cause and procured search warrants for Burrus’ home, business and vehicle.

After searches were completed, Burrus was charged with murder and booked into the Shelby County Jail.

There was no evidence of forced entry at the residence, Samaniego said, and the victim was found near the entryway.

Samaniego described the shooting as a “crime of passion,” and not pre-meditated, but said investigators are so far unaware of any ongoing dispute between the victim and suspect, who were described as “part-owners” of a business.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019.

Both the hearing and trial will take place in Courtroom No. 5 of the Shelby County Courthouse with Circuit Judge William H. Bostick III presiding.