A psychologist called as an expert witness for accused murderer Shelton Mills told jurors Thursday that the killing “is not a ‘who-dunnit,’ crime, but a ‘why-dunnit’ crime.”

James H. Hilkey, submitted as an expert on forensic psychology by defense attorneys William Gerrans and Allen Foster, testified in Pitt County Superior Court that Mills told him  during his examinations, “I’m sorry those people had to die.” Later in the examination, Mills denied saying that, Hilkey said.

Mills has pleaded not guilty to the shooting deaths of Cylvonnia Preddy Crowder and Robert Bizzell Jr. Aug. 26, 2007, at Crowder’s Grifton home. He faces the death penalty if found guilty.

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