Jared Lee Loughner pleads not guilty to dozens of federal charges in Gabrielle Giffords shooting

Loughner was said to be smiling as he entered the courtroom in Tuscon, Arizona.

THE SUSPECT IN the shooting that killed six people and injured US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has pleaded not guilty to dozens of federal charges.

Jared Lee Loughner entered his plea yesterday to charges that included trying to assassinate Representative Gabrielle Giffords, attempting to kill two of her aides and murdering federal judge John Roll and Giffords staffer Gabe Zimmerman.

He is also charged with causing the deaths of four others who were not federal employees, causing injury and death to particpants at a federally provided acitivity in which he used a gun in a crime of violence.

Loughner, 22, will also face Arizona state charges but it is the federal charges which carry the death penalty.

Three survivors of the shooting attended the hearing at a packed court house in Tuscon, Arizona.

As he entered the court, Lougher was smiling and his hair had grown quite a bit from recent photos. Loughner’s father was also in attendance.

It is hoped that a trial in the case can begin towards the end of September.

- AP