A motion to drop charges for a man accused of killing his wife in 2007 was denied in general sessions court yesterday.

Daniel Ringo Harris, 57, of 208 Folk Road, Newberry, is charged with the January 2007 murder of his wife, Sharon Lawson Harris, 50.

Yesterday in court, a motion was made that Daniel Harris was protecting his home when he killed his wife.

Daniel Harris and his wife were estranged and both had previously been arrested for domestic violence offenses against each other.

On Jan. 7, 2007, the couple went to the Sheriff’s Office to discuss an unrelated problem, and to church together. The next day they were to meet with a guardian ad litem to discuss the future of the three children they shared.

Despite the fact the couple had been together, Daniel Harris had a restraining order against his wife.

When Daniel Harris did not show up to meet his wife, Sharon Harris went to his home on Folk Road off Highway 121 near I-26.

A struggle began and Sharon Harris was shot in the leg, abdomen and the right temple. The shots were fatal.

After the shooting, Daniel Harris reportedly took a shower and hid the clothing he was wearing and the gun in a nearby well.

Daniel Harris then drove to Kinards to a relative’s house before returning to Newberry to the Sheriff’s Office to report the shooting.

Daniel Harris reportedly had $2,000 in cash and travelers checks in his possession when he was arrested.

Daniel Harris’ attorney has claimed his defendant does not believe in banks, and is known to carry a large sum of cash.

The husband claims his wife came into his home with the gun and that Sharon Harris was killed during a struggle.

After being charged with murder, Daniel Harris was released in March 2007 on a $100,000 bond, but with strict orders to wear a monitoring system and be on house arrest.

Yesterday’s motion to dismiss the case was based on the Castle Doctrine, which is the concept that a person has the legal right to use deadly force to defend his or her home or “castle” from violent attack or intrusion.