PERRY -- A Fort Valley man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder and related charges in connection with a fight in the parking lot of a Warner Robins business.

Robert Lee Gill, 44, was indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault in the June 18 death of Terry Lynn Carson, 41. Gill is accused of beating Carson in the head with a 2-by-4 lumber board as well as kicking him in the head, the indictment stated.

Gill entered his plea in Houston County Superior Court before Judge Katherine K. Lumsden.

The men, both contract workers at Robins Air Force Base, got into an argument at work that carried over into a physical fight off base in the parking lot of Cascade International, 104 Industrial Park Blvd., which makes forklift parts.

Houston County Public Defender Nick White, who is representing Gill, said after the hearing the case is one of self-defense. In such cases, it’s important to look at who was the aggressor and who escalated the fight to the point of bringing, to quote an old cliche, he said, “a knife to a fist fight.”

Houston County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Daniel P. Bibler, who is prosecuting the case, declined comment on the facts of the case. He expects the case to go to trial toward the middle or end of next year. White also expects to be ready for trial by mid-2013.

To contact writer Becky Purser, call 256-9559.