Michael Jace, the American actor best known for playing Detective Julien Lowe in FX series The Shield, has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife – who was shot at their family home in May.

Michael JaceMichael Jace has pleaded not guilty

Jace was arrested after he called 911 to report that he had shot and killed his wife in their Los Angeles home – the couple’s two young sons were at home at the time of the shooting. Authorities are yet to discuss a motive though gossip site TMZ.com reported how the couple had been fighting over money problems.

The actor is currently being held on $2 million bail and faces 50 years to life in prison if found guilty of murder.

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The audio recording of the emergency call featured an unnamed call who explains, “My son-in-law called me, and (texted) me, and said come get the kids because he shot April, our daughter”.

April Jade worked at Biola University and had three sons, two boys with Jace. The couple were married for nine years, following Jace’s previous marriage to Jennifer Bitterman. They divorced in 2002.

Crime drama The Shield ran for seven seasons between 2002 and 2008. It won the Golden Globe for best television drama series in 2002. Jace’s other credits include small parts in Forrest Gump, State of Play, Boogie Nights and Planet of the Apes.

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