Two plead not guilty in death of 13-year-old girl

Two men charged in thedeath of a teenage girl found on a golf course west of Edmonton in 2005 have pleaded not guilty.

The body of 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte was discovered on the Edmonton Springs Golf Resort in April 2005.

In court Thursday, Michael Briscoe, 36, and Joseph Laboucan, 21, both pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, and kidnapping.

Their case began with pretrial arguments, but the media is prevented from reporting details of the hearing because of a publication ban.

Earlier this week, defence lawyers successfully won the right to have their clients be tried by judge alone, rather than by a judge and jury.

A total of five people faced charges in Courtepatte's death.

In December, a 19-year-old man pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.

Two women, aged 17 and 19, charged with first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, and kidnapping are scheduled to go to trial later this year.

The three can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.