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Beiber pleads not guilty
4.24.07 bieber
Bieber pleads not guilty - photo by File photo

An Effingham County teen pleaded not guilty to charges including murder Thursday morning in Effingham County Superior Court.

Dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers, Mitchell Bieber stood quietly and emotionless in handcuffs and leg irons as the 10 counts against him were read at his arraignment.

On April 20, Bieber allegedly stabbed his 8-year-old brother Tyler Fennell to death and then stabbed his mother and stepfather when they confronted him. The assault took place at the family’s residence in Guyton.

The 16-year-old faces three counts of murder, one count of cruelty to children, three counts of aggravated assault and three counts of possession of a firearm or knife during the commission of the crime.

“The defendant is entering a plea of not guilty at this time,” his attorney, public defender Robert Persse, informed the court.

He was brought into the courtroom just for his arraignment and taken out immediately after. Driven away from the Effingham County Courthouse by a deputy, Bieber laid down in the back seat to avoid being photographed by the media.

He was taken back to the Claxton Youth Detention Center.

Bieber’s next court date is set for Aug. 21.