A camera with a live feed was allowed inside the courtroom as Elzbieta Plackowska pleaded not guilty in the high-profile murder case.
The Naperville mom is accused of killing her own 7-year-old son, Justin Plackowski, and a 5-year-old girl, Olivia Dworakowski, she was baby-sitting last month. Both children were stabbed to death.
Prosecutors say Plackowska stabbed her son 100 times and stabbed Olivia 50 times because she was angry with her husband.
The hearing was the first live broadcast of legal proceedings inside a court in the Chicago area. Illinois has traditionally not allowed cameras in the courtroom, but the Illinois Supreme Court made it legal in 23 counties on a case-by-case basis.
"What is important to note is, while there are a lot of cameras here, a lot of attention focused here today, is not to lose sight of the real important, real- time event. Any court proceeding is a solemn event, sometimes over very tragic circumstances," said Joe Tybor.
"What happened here is a tragedy. It is important to remember not to rush to judgment. In court this morning, I received the initial police reports, pictures and videos. I am limited in what I can tell you by the attorney-client privilege and the Illinois rules of professional conduct, but what I can say is Elzbieta pled not guilty to all the charges," said public defender Michael Mara.
