Woman pleads not guilty to shooting husband in mall

MANILA, Philippines - A 27-year-old housewife accused of killing her husband and a security guard in a mall in Quezon City two years ago pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of parricide and murder filed against her.

Accused Shella Macapugay entered her plea during her arraignment before Judge Maria Filomena Singh of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 219.

Macapugay was charged for allegedly killing her husband, Abel, at the mall’s basement on Sept. 13, 2011. She also reportedly killed security guard Ricardo Inamac III, who tried to stop her from shooting herself after she shot her husband.

Her arraignment was set after physicians from the National Center for Mental Health said she has improved and is deemed competent to stand the rigors of court trial.

Physicians earlier said Macapugay, who was detained at the female dormitory of the Quezon City Jail, was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and that she was incompetent to stand the rigors of trial. She was earlier allowed to undergo physical and mental examination after claiming that she was hearing different voices, including that of her late husband.

The court set the pre-trial of the case against Macapugay on Aug. 15.