Suspect in deadly Times Square crash pleads not guilty

NEW YORK — A U.S. Navy veteran pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and attempted murder after he was accused of intentionally mowing down pedestrians on a Times Square sidewalk, killing a woman and injuring 22 other people. Twenty-six-year-old Richard Rojas, dressed in a beige jail uniform, mostly looked down at the defence table during his arraignment in the May 18 melee. He spoke only to tell the judge good morning; his lawyer entered the plea.

The mother of one of the victims, high school student Jessica Williams who was badly injured, sat in court and cried during the brief hearing with two others, including a man who gave Rojas the finger as he left court.