Zoa White murder suspect denied bond

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - A capital murder suspect makes his first court appearance. Carlos Kennedy was denied bond Friday morning. Kennedy is accused of killing Zoa White at her Springhill Avenue home.

For the first time, Laurie Miller saw the man Mobile police say killed her mother.

Kennedy was arrested and charged with capital murder more than two months after the slaying.

Miller sat on the edge of her seat as Kennedy stood before Judge Bob Sherling.

"Very bitter sweet a lot of emotion. Happy to have an arrest, but very angry that I'm here in this Labor Day weekend instead of taking care of my family," said Laurie Miller.

Authorities said Kennedy may have been watching White for some time before the murder.

"Everyone knows mother liked to work in her yard. As we know he lived down the street," added Miller.

The district attorney's office said it was a random act of violence.

Kennedy's court appointed attorney, Habib Yazdi, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of temporary insanity.

"As a matter of due course, you should always plea so later on if there is any evidence you have already established that," said Yazdi.

The district attorney's office said there is no evidence to support this plea.

"Getting up going to work and things of that nature. No bizarre behavior that he wasn't able to know right from wrong or control his conduct," said Jo Beth Murphree.

Murphree said Kennedy worked with his dad installing satellite TV.

Psychological evaluations will be conducted while Kennedy sits in jail.

A preliminary hearing has been set for September 20.