A man has been charged with murder in the deadly Christmas day shooting of Sky Lemmons-Dixon.

Michael Varlak pleaded not guilty Wednesday afternoon to charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. He’s accused of shooting Lemmons-Dixon in her home on State Street on Christmas Day. She died days later.

Dixon had expressed fear for her safety as her abusive ex-boyfriend was on trial, according to court papers obtained by NewsChannel 13. She was set to testify but ended up not doing that.

Varlak will be in the Albany County Jail until his next court appearance, set for next month.