Woman accused of stabbing newborn pleads not guilty | News

ATHENS, Ga. -- An Athens woman charged with stabbing her newborn son to death has pleaded not guilty.

Cassandra Elyse Norwood, 21, entered the plea during a court hearing Tuesday.

Authorities say Norwood hid her pregnancy from relatives and that after giving birth in early November, Norwood used a large kitchen knife to stab the newborn. She then hid his body.

Officials say Norwood told them she stabbed the baby while trying to cut the umbilical cord.

At Tuesday's hearing, Norwood pleaded not guilty to charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and three charges of possession of a knife during the commission of a crime.