Routt appears in person, waives preliminary hearing in Elkhorn homicide case

ELKHORN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The man accused of shooting and killing a young couple in an Elkhorn bar appeared in court Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Thomas Routt remains in jail after he waived his preliminary hearing.

Tuesday was the first time Routt appeared in person. It was also the first time the families of the victims got to see him in person.

Several people in the gallery started to cry as Routt was led into the courtroom in handcuffs.

Routt said very little in court Tuesday, only responding briefly to Walworth County Circuit Court Judge Phillip Koss's questions about his competence and understanding of the proceedings.

Koss asked, "Have you ever been committed to a mental institution or deemed incompetent?"

And Routt replied, "No, sir, I have not."

Routt is charged with five felony counts connected to the Feb. 1 shooting of Gina and Emerson Weingart at a sports bar in downtown Elkhorn.

He's also accused of shooting at a witness who ran out the back door. Authorities said he then robbed the register of $120-$140.

During the court appearance, Koss explained, "Because you are charged with felonies, you're entitled to have a hearing where the state would have to show probable cause you committed a felony. Do you understand that?"

Routt said, "Yes, sir."

Routt then waived his preliminary hearing.

He sat alone Tuesday. His attorney Russell Jones appeared virtually.

Jones said they were ready to plead, but Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld asked for two weeks to prepare.

Previously, Jones told us, "We will be pleading not guilty."

The families of Gina and Emerson Weingart filled the gallery benches Tuesday.

After the hearing, they declined to speak about seeing Routt for the first time.

Instead, they referred us to their comments from last week, in which Emerson Weingart's father Jeff Weingart said, "Our families have been devastated by this senseless act of violence."

Thomas Routt remains in jail on a $2 million bond.

He'll next appear in court March 8.

As the court's victim advocate coordinated dates with the family, one family member in the gallery said, "the sooner the better."