In a Seattle court, the American accused of collaborating with the Tumbler Ridge shooter to plan a school mass shooting in British Columbia has pleaded not guilty. James Cody Bryant, who identifies as Melody and prefers she/her pronouns according to her lawyers, made her appearance at an arraignment hearing while dressed in an olive green prison uniform.
Upon entering the courtroom, Bryant, 30, was accompanied by a U.S. court martial. She greeted two friends in the audience with a slight smile and nod as she stood with her hands clasped in front of her. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg formally presented the charge, to which Bryant remained silent while her attorney entered the plea of “not guilty” on her behalf.
The indictment against Bryant for conspiracy to murder individuals in a foreign country was handed down by a grand jury last week. If convicted, she could face a sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. The trial is set to commence on December 21.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
