Teen pleads not guilty in fatal stabbing at school

With his hands cuffed behind him and his feet in leg irons, 14-year-old Timothy Oxendine was escorted by a correctional officer yesterday into a Baltimore Circuit courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty in the fatal stabbing of a teenager at a West Baltimore middle school last month.

Oxendine was charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the stabbing of Markel Williams, 15, on Nov. 21. Williams' body was found outside William H. Lemmel Middle School. Oxendine surrendered to police several hours after the incident.

In court yesterday, the boy's attorney, Patrick Todd Williams, entered the not guilty plea before Judge Sylvester Cox, while Oxendine stood next to him. A trial was set for March 23.

Oxendine's attorney and police have suggested that bullying might have been a factor in the stabbing. The boy's attorney had previously said Oxendine felt threatened by Markel Williams and was "totally terrified" of going to school.

After court yesterday, the boy's attorney said his client was "doing fine" at the city jail. He said his goal was to get the case transferred to juvenile court next year.

Markel Williams' body was found near the entrance to ConneXions Community Leadership Academy, an alternative school program at Lemmel Middle.