A Brookhaven man accused of killing his wife continues workinghis way through the court system.

James E. Pendleton, 41, of 539 Railroad Ave., had his bond set at$500,000 Tuesday during an appearance in Brookhaven MunicipalCourt. He remains in the Lincoln County Jail.

Pendleton is charged with murder in the Dec. 4 shooting death ofhis wife, Gail Pendleton, 29, following what appears to have been adomestic dispute. Police responded to a domestic call at thePendleton home at 3:12 that afternoon and she was pronounced deadat 3:30. James Pendleton was arrested without incident.

Brookhaven police are still investigating the case, said AssistantChief Nolan Jones.

“It’s a pretty clear-cut case at this point,” he said. “We’re justwaiting on the grand jury to meet.”

The grand jury was just released for 2010 and the new one will beconstituted early next year, the District Attorney’s officesaid.