King Of Prussia Man Pleads Not Guilty To Kidnap, Murder
By Brad Segall
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. (CBS) -- A Montgomery County, Pa. man accused of murdering a 10-month-old baby and the infant's grandmother during what prosecutors say was a botched kidnapping has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him.
One by one, prosecutors read the charges against Raghu Yandamuri during his formal arraignment. And one by one, his attorney answered, "Not guilty."
The 26-year-old King of Prussia man is facing homicide, kidnapping and related charges for the murders of Saanvi Venna and her grandmother in an Upper Merion apartment last October (see related story).
He's facing the death penalty, but what about a plea to get that off the table?
"Certainly something we would consider," says defense attorney Steve Heckman. "We'd have to talk to each other and to him, but I never rule that out."
Prosecutors say Yandamuri had plans to hold the infant for ransom, but killed the grandmother when she fought back, then suffocated the child before dumping her body in the basement of a building at the Marquis Apartments.
No trial date has been set, but the judge indicated it likely won't happen before the fall.
