WSOP poker pro pleads not guilty to murder charge

Way back in February we reported on the disturbing case of a professional poker player who had been accused of murdering his parents in their home last year. The man accused, Ernest Scherer III has now appeared in the Alameda County Superior Court to face the charges.

The Alameda County Superior Court judge heard the charges made against poker pro Scherer which are two counts that he committed murder using a deadly weapon for financial gain. Scherer pleased not guilty to those charges last Tuesday and now awaits a preliminary hearing which has been set for 13^th July. The charges if proven could carry the death sentence for the poker pro.

It is alleged by the prosecution that Ernest Scherer III murdered his parents to benefit from their estate which is estimated to be in the region of $1.3 million. Scherer has been accused of being heavily in debt and owed his parents $616,000 which his father had tried to agree repayment terms with Scherer, and the accused on the same day asked a friend to purchase a gun on his behalf.

Poker pro Scherer is married with one child, is a World Series of Poker player who has earned a total of $339,780 of prize money in his poker career. Scherer’s father Ernie Scherer Jr also played poker though his main career was in property investment. The bodies of sixty year old Ernie Scherer Jr. and his 57year old wife Charlene Abendroth, were found stabbed to death in their home wearing only their pyjamas.

There will be a further hearing on 8^th June which will give the prosecution time to produce video and other evidence for the defence as part of the disclosure process, Public Defender Richard Foxall said that the prosecution had failed to deliver these items as required.