JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Amid heavy security, Deryl Dedmon was led into Hinds County Court, for his arraignment, after being indicted on capitol murder charges.
The proceedings took less than five minutes, with Dedmon entering his plea.
The victim according to prosecutors, James Craig Anderson, was targeted, by Dedmon, who they say ran him down intentionally in his pickup truck back in June.
The story gained national attention after surveillance video was obtained by CNN. Dedmon's attorney's now concerned about his upcoming trial requested a gag order in the case, which was denied by Judge Jeff Weill.
"I think it's important to keep the pre trial publicity as the sheet I just handed to you shows entitlement to all the Constitutional rights granted to the defendant charged with the crime," said Defense Attorney Cynthia Stewart.
"If you look around every case that's highly publicized there have been requests for gag orders and it doesn't effect us one way or the other," added Hinds County District Attorney, Robert Smith.
Judge Weill set the trial date for January 9th, 2012 and gave prosecutors till November 1st to decide if they would pursue the death penalty against Dedmon.
The Anderson family has already requested the DA's office doesn't go that route, saying taking another life, won't bring James back.
"This is something we will strongly consider, but the date is a month or two away and we'll make that decision," Smith added.
John Rice, charged with aggravated assault in the case along with Dedmon have been denied bond, and will likely sit in jail until their trial, early next year.
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