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Denver Man Held Without Bond In Wife's 911 Slaying

DENVER (AP/CBS4) — A man who allegedly confessed to killing his wife as she spoke to a 911 operator is being held without bond after his first court appearance Wednesday.

Richard Kirk
Richard Kirk (credit: Denver Police Department/CBS)

During the brief appearance, Richard Kirk, who faces murder charges, said nothing. The 47-year-old wore a grey jail uniform and showed no emotion.

Several relatives were in the courtroom. They did not to speak to reporters.

Kristine Kirk
Kristine Kirk (credit: Facebook)

Police officers arrived at the home on the 2100 block of South St. Paul Street just after 44-year-old Kristine Kirk was shot in the head Monday night, about 15 minutes after she called 911.

Authorities are investigating whether police responded quickly enough and whether her husband, who she said was hallucinating, had been using marijuana.

According to court documents, a detective who listened to his wife's 911 call says he could hear her scream and then a gunshot.

ST. PAUL DEATH INVESTIGATION MAP
(credit: CBS)

Friends and family of the Kirks told CBS4 Richard Kirk is a great father, a great husband, and what happened inside their home is simply tragic and unexplainable. His younger brother, Shane Kirk, said he hasn't spoken him since the arrest.

"Lives for his family and that's why this is so out of left field. He's a great, hardworking father and husband," Shane Kirk said. "All he did was work for his kids. He coached soccer games, took them to hockey games and basketball games all the time."

The family says Richard Kirk works as artist and designer for Tough Shed's corporate office. Kristine Kirk recently changed her office job.

CBS4 asked Shane Kirk about the possibility of his brother being high on drugs when his wife called 911. He replied that he was shocked that Richard Kirk was using pot.

"I'm wondering, this marijuana, where ever he (Richard) got it from," Shane Kirk said. "I didn't know marijuana could do this."

Shane Kirk also says he's concerned about the police response time.

"They live in downtown Denver. I'm concerned that she was on the phone for 13 minutes with 911. I have lots of questions about that," he said.

Denver police say the normal response time is 15 minutes for an emergency and 27 for non-emergency.

The Kirks have three young boys. The family says the Kirk children are now with their mother's family, which is located in Colorado, but not local to the metro area.

RELATED: Woman Allegedly Shot By Husband Was Talking To 911 For 12 Minutes

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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