Astronaut Nowak pleads not guilty to kidnapping

March 22, 2007

Florida - Attorneys for former NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak formally entered a not guilty plea Thursday to charges stemming from an alleged assault of a woman who was dating her ex-boyfriend.

Nowak, 43, has been charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary of a vehicle with a weapon. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 30.

Nowak, a captain in the U.S. Navy, was not present at Thursday's arraignment at Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court in Orlando. Her lawyers had said earlier this month she would plead not guilty to the charges.

In the past, her attorney has said the charges overstate her conduct.

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