Teen Accused Of Killing University Of Texas Freshman To Plead Not Guilty

Austin, TX -- The teenager charged with killing University of Texas at Austin student Haruka Weiser will plead not guilty, according to a published report.

Meechaiel Khalil Criner is expected to enter the plea in his upcoming trial for the murder of freshman Haruka Weiser, the lawyer for the accused told the Austin American-Statesman. Austin attorney Ariel Payan previously said publicly that Criner's mental health would figure in his defense.

Weiser, 18, was a theater and dance major from Portland, Ore. who was last seen alive on April 3 after leaving a class. Her body was found in a stretch of Waller Creek that runs through campus two days later.

The student's death rocked the campus, prompting the university president to ask Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo to direct some of his officers to help patrol the area alongside campus police.

It's unclear if that bolstered, post-homicide police presence remains as it was in the days following the killing. On July 7, someone somehow managed to scrawl a large graffiti protest message ("Black Lives Matter") in response to police shootings elsewhere in an eminently visible and prominent part of the campus without being detected by officers.

University officials quickly marshaled more resources -- more patrolling cops, bolstered van service to transport students to their evening destinations, etc. -- after the killing, but have come under some criticism from students and parents for not having taken more security measures in place prior to the murder.

In response, UT president Gregory Fenves commissioned a report to be prepared outlining safeguards the school should take. That report is expected to be completed sometime in August.

>>> Pictured: Meechaiel Khalil Criner