ORLANDO, Fla. - A NASA astronaut accused of trying to harm a romantic rival has entered a written plea of not guilty to a charge of attempted murder, court records show.
Lisa Nowak was arrested Feb. 5 on charges of attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and three other crimes stemming from what police described as a love triangle involving fellow astronaut William Oefelein.
The written plea was filed Tuesday, online records from the Orange County Clerk of Courts showed. Nowak's lawyer, Donald Lykkebak, did not return an e-mail or phone message left at his office late Friday.
A U.S. navy spokesman has said the military will not take over the case.
"We are allowing the civilian authorities and judicial system to run its course," spokesman Lt. Tommy Crosby told Florida Today newspaper for Saturday editions.
NASA relieved Nowak of all mission duties after she was arrested in Orlando on charges she tried to harm Colleen Shipman, a navy captain and the woman she viewed as a rival for the Oefelein's affections.
Shipman withdrew a request for a restraining order against Nowak on Thursday because the astronaut must wear an ankle monitor and is prohibited from making contact with Shipman under the terms of her release. The navy also has issued an order prohibiting her from having contact with Shipman.
Police said Nowak drove from Houston, Texas, to Florida wearing diapers so she would not have to stop, donned a disguise and was armed with a pellet gun and pepper spray when she confronted Shipman.
