'Craigslist Killer' Appears in Court, Shouts 'Not Guilty'

BOSTON June 22, 2009 — -- Accused "Craigslist Killer" Philip Markoff shouted out a not guilty plea today to first-degree murder in a Massachusetts' courtroom.

Markoff, 23, also pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery of another woman as well as kidnapping and weapons charges.

The former medical student, who showed up to court freshly shaved, with a new haircut and wearing a crisp, white button down shirt, is known as the "Craigslist Killer" for allegedly finding his victims on the popular Craigslists online classified ads site.

When asked how he pleads, Markoff in a loud and confident voice yelled out his innocence with a loud, "Not guilty."

Asked by the court if he waived the reading of the indictment Markoff responded, "Yes."

The indictment, originally handed down on Thursday, accused Markoff of the April 14 shooting of Julissa Brisman, 25, at the Boston Marriot Copley Place Hotel.

Brisman was a masseuse who had advertised in the "erotic services" section of the online bulletin board.

Markoff is also charged with the April 10 armed robbery of 29-year-old Las Vegas woman named Trisha Leffler in another Boston hotel.

He is being held without bail at the Nashua Street Jail.

Markoff never made eye contact with his parents, Richard Markoff and Susan Haynes, who were sitting in the packed courtroom just a few rows behind him in the courtroom.

As the charges against his son were read, Richard Markoff rocked back and forth in his seat. Haynes twitched her hands nervously in her lap.

Markoff's brother, Jonathan Markoff, was also in court alongside his wife, Deanna, whom he held hands with throughout the arraignment.

Asked by ABC News whether he still believed in his son's innocence, Richard Markoff nodded yes.

Victim Julissa Brisman's mother, Carmen Guzman, cried as Markoff made his pleas.

Brisman's sister bowed her head and began to cry audibly when prosectors read the details of the attack during which they said Brisman was "hit on the head before shot at point blank range three times."

Suffolk County Prosecutor Edmond Zabin described to the courtroom "three violent assaults against three female victims."

Zabin said that Markoff had used the ID of a man from upstate New York by the name of Andrew Miller to purchase the 9mm gun he later used to kill Brisman.

According to Zabin, Markoff drove to Mason, N.H., in February to purchase the gun when his fiance, Megan McAllister, was away for the weekend. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco an Firearms traced the murder weapon to the New Hampshire shop and found Markoff's prints on the purchasing document, prosecutors said.

Those prints also matched those found at the scene of Brisman's killing, the DA said in court.

Andrew Miller is cooperating with the investigation, said Zabin, who did not comment on how Markoff and Miller knew each other.