LEWISTON - The Lewiston man accused of murdering his wife on Valentine's Day appeared in court Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Gary Mallory Jr. is charged with first-degree murder and domestic battery. Prosecutors say he strangled his wife Charlene Mabie to death.

The prosecution called three witnesses before a recess Thursday afternoon.

First was LPD officer Zach Ward, who said he and another officer were first on scene, and noticed Mabie's dead body on a downstairs bed.

Ward said at first Mallory was asking for "a cigarette before he went to jail," but Ward said Mallory hadn't even been questioned at that time. Ward said Mallory was later detained for questioning.

Nez Perce County Coroner Gary Gilliam also testified, confirming Mabie's death was by "manual strangulation."

Police say Mallory had been drinking before the alleged crime was committed.

Magistrate Judge Jay Gaskill found probable cause to bound the case over to district court.