QUEBEC — The man accused in the slayings at a Quebec City mosque last year pleaded not guilty Monday to six charges of first-degree murder and six of attempted murder.
Alexandre Bissonnette, who was handcuffed and had shackles around his ankles, entered the 12 not-guilty pleas in Quebec Superior Court ahead of pre-trial motions to be debated this week.
The motions could have an impact on how the proceedings will unfold and the evidence that will be heard beginning in April, when the two-month trial is slated to begin.
Jury selection is scheduled to start April 3.
Lawyers have set aside three days this week to present all of their motions to Justice Francois Huot. Details of the motions were slapped with a publication ban.
The charges against Bisssonnette, 28, are related to an attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre in January 2017. The counts of attempted murder are related to five people who were struck by bullets and a sixth charge encompasses the other 35 people present at the mosque.
Many members of Quebec City’s Muslim community were present in court Monday.