David Allen (Jail photo)

GATESVILLE (June 27, 2012)—Former Gatesville pastor David Allen who’s charged with capital murder in his wife’s fiery death, won’t face a possible death sentence.

The prosecution filed notice Friday it will not seek the death penalty when Allen goes on trial.

State District Judge Trent Farrell, meanwhile, granted a defense motion he took under advisement earlier this week and reduced Allen’s bond from $1 million to $700,000.

In March Farrell set the $1 million bond and ordered Allen to surrender his passport.

Allen is charged in the March 22, 2011 death of his wife Paula in a house fire.

He was indicted in February, accused of setting the fire deliberately, using a flammable accelerant.

Paula Allen, 54, was found dead just inside the front door of a mobile home behind the New Life Church of Restoration just east of Gatesville.

The church has since changed its name.

An initial autopsy report showed Paula Allen died of smoke inhalation and thermal burns.

David Allen was able to escape the flames that morning, but said he was overcome by smoke as he tried to rescue his wife.

He reported he was asleep in the living room and his wife was asleep in a bedroom when the fire broke out just after 1 a.m. on March 22, 2011.

Coryell County Justice of the Peace Coy Latham said earlier Allen reported that he awoke to the flames, jumped out of a living room window and ran around the mobile home to try to save his wife, who he said was in a back bedroom.

Gatesville Fire Chief Billy Vaden said firefighters tried to get into the back of the mobile home to find the woman, but the roof caved in before they could make entry.

David Allen did not require medical attention.