RIVERSIDE - A March 18 trial date was confirmed today for a man accused of fatally shooting his girlfriend at his Menifee home for reasons still unclear.

Adam Michael Starkey, 32, could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder, as well as gun and great bodily injury allegations, in the Jan. 24, 2011, slaying of 38-year-old Jennifer Bowers.

During a case status conference at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan scheduled the trial after the prosecution and defense agreed they would be ready to proceed in mid-March.

Starkey is being held in Advertisement

[ Metalography ] lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to Riverside County sheriff's officials, the defendant called 911 on the night of the attack allegedly admitting that he had just shot his girlfriend.

Deputies arrived at Starkey's house at 25773 Bundy Canyon Road a short time later and detained the allegedly drunken man in the front yard.

Bowers was found inside the house, dead from a single gunshot wound to the upper body, investigators said.

A motive for the shooting has not been disclosed.

According to court records, Starkey has a prior misdemeanor conviction, though it wasn't clear for what.