An Albany man accused of killing his brother-in-law was appeared in court this morning.

Last month, Ashley Heshmat, 44, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder.

Justin Bishop, 48 was found dead on Jan. 14 inside the home where he and Heshmat lived.

The judge ordered a swab taken of Heshmat’s DNA. He is due back in court on March 20 at 9:30 a.m.  

Police said that Heshmat killed Bishop on Jan. 12 and then hid the knife, car and Bishop’s cell phone across several locations in Albany that Saturday. He is also accused of lying to police and concealing a human corpse.

Bishop had been a nurse at St. Peter’s Hospital for nearly 18 years.