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Naperville Woman Pleads Not Guilty To Child Murders

Plackowska
Elzbieta Plackowska arrives in court, the first hearing that was televised or photographed in the Chicago area. (CBS)

UPDATED: 11/21/2012 10:15 a.m.

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Naperville woman accused of killing her son and a little girl she was baby-sitting last month entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday--in the first-ever televised court proceeding in the Chicago area.

Elzbieta Plackowska walked into court in handcuffs and wearing a prison jumpsuit with her attorney and a Polish interpreter. The hearing was brief, lasting only about five minutes. The judge set the next hearing date for Jan. 4 at 9 a.m.

Elzbieta Plackowska is being held without bond after the killings of her 7-year-old son Justin and 5-year-old Olivia Dworakowski at the Dworakowski's Naperville townhouse on Oct. 30.

She also allegedly killed two dogs in the home.

"What happened here is a tragedy, but it's important to remember not to rush to judgment," said Plackowska's attorney, Michael Mara.

Prosecutors say Plackowska gave different reasons for repeatedly stabbing the children.

Among those: That she needed to drive evil out of them.

But, they say, she later admitted she killed her son because she was angry at her husband and then killed Olivia because she was a witness.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Dave Berner Reports

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