(August 6, 2010) The teen twins accused of matricide, Jasmiyah and Tasmiyah Whitehead, entered not guilty pleas earlier this week in Rockdale County Superior Court, bringing the cases one step closer to a trial.

The offices of attorneys David LaMalva, who represents Tasmiyah, and Lowell Thomas, who represents Jasmiyah, separately filed documents waiving formal arraignments for the girls and entering pleas of not guilty.

LaMalva requested the state to provide a copy of the witnesses prosecutors intend to call to the trial. Thomas’s office stated that Jasmiyah did not waive her right to challenge the composition of jury pools or the indictment.

The twins were indicted by a grand jury July 12 for the charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated assault for the stabbing and beating death of their mother, Jarmecca “Nikki” Whitehead, 34, in January.