Not guilty plea in killing of ex-Bear's girlfriend

A Chicago woman pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to fatally shooting the pregnant girlfriend of former Chicago Bears All-Pro safety Shaun Gayle in what prosecutors say was a jealous rage.

Marni Yang, 41, was indicted last month on nine counts of first-degree murder and three counts of intentional homicide of an unborn child in the Oct. 4, 2007, death of 42-year-old Rhoni Reuter at Reuter's apartment in the Chicago suburb of Deerfield.

Yang shot Reuter seven times because she was jealous of the woman's relationship with Gayle, said Assistant State's Attorney Patricia Fix. She took steps to cover what she'd done, ditching stolen license plates on the car driven to and from the crime scene and disposing of the gun in a bucket of wet cement, Lake County prosecutor Jeff Pavletic has said.

Yang also made incriminating statements before and after the slaying, telling a friend she planned to kill Reuter and later admitting to the same person that she had done so, prosecutors say.

Reuter was seven months pregnant with the child of Gayle, a former All-Pro and member of the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl-winning team. He has said he considered Yang a friend but the two never dated.

Gayle and several members of Reuter's family attended the hearing Wednesday but declined to speak to reporters.

Defense attorney Jeffrey Lerner said Yang, whose legs were shackled and hands were cuffed at the waist during the hearing, "persists in her innocence, and she's going to vigorously defend herself."

Yang is being held without bail at the Lake County Jail.

Lake County Judge Christopher Stride told Yang she faces a life sentence on the murder charges because prosecutors say the crimes were committed in "a cold, calculated and premeditated manner." She also faces 25 years to life in prison for using a firearm.

Intentional homicide of an unborn child carries a sentence of up to 60 years in prison, and prosecutors also seek the 25-to-life enhancement because a firearm was used.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 13.