MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The man accused of shooting and killing three people in Milwaukee in August has made his last court appearance before he is set to go to trial.

Thomas Zollicoffer appeared in court on Thursday, Nov. 5 facing seven felony charges: three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and four counts of possessing a firearm while convicted of a felony.

The murders happened Aug. 8, as the criminal complaint states Zollicoffer went to the apartment of his ex-girlfriend Vanessa DeHerrera, shooting her and her friend Scott Bucholz. They both died at the scene, near 21st and Pierce.

Zollicoffer then reportedly got a friend to drive him to his friend's house, instead going to the apartment of Shamarla 'Asir' Hare who he also reportedly shot.

Zollicoffer then reportedly stayed with his cousin Elana Cole for several days, until police arrested him.

You'll remember this case made headlines, and made its way into political campaigns, after Judge David Borowski questioned how Zollicoffer could have used a jail-issued electronic device to discuss threatening witnesses in August. The defendant was then denied future access to those devices.

In court on Thursday, families of the victims wore purple, the color representing domestic violence awareness.

Both sides said they were ready to go to trial, as the state just got back results from DNA evidence from that night, though the defense says they won't need to ask for experts to testify on it since it's "largely irrelevant" to their defense.

The state says they plan on calling in about 45 witnesses, and the trial - starting Nov. 16, is expected to last one week.

If guilty, Zollicoffer could face three life sentences plus 40 years.

Zollicoffer's alleged accomplices include his cousin Elana Cole with whom he stayed while evading police. She's charged with felony of harboring/aiding a felon and three misdemeanors of neglecting a child, and she is due back in court for a scheduling conference on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Zollicoffer's friend who allegedly drove him from the first shooting site to the second, Sengchanh Phengphonsavanh, is charged with felony of harboring/aiding a felon, and is due back in court Friday, Nov. 6 for a status conference