Accused murderer Christopher Lee was in court again yesterday, pleading not guilty to charges that he killed his lover, 19-year-old Erin Corwin of Twentynine Palms last June. Lee was formally arraigned on the murder charges three weeks ago, and yesterday’s court appearance was a formality for him to plead not guilty. Lee’s attorney repeated his assertion that he plans to seek a change of venue due to extensive media coverage of the case. Investigators believe Lee, 25, had an affair with Corwin, who was married to a Marine and lived in base housing next door to Lee and his wife on board the Combat Center. Prosecutors allege that Lee killed Corwin by strangling her and dumping her body down a 140-foot mine shaft east of Twentynine Palms. It took searchers seven weeks to find her body. Lee, who had been honorably discharged from the Marine Corps by then and had moved to Alaska with his wife, was arrested for her murder in August and returned to California where he awaits his trial. Prosecutors have not said yet whether they will seek the death penalty if Lee is convicted of Corwin’s murder.
