Defendant pleads not guilty by insanity in Vegas ax attack case; death penalty trial date set

Defendant pleads insanity in Las Vegas ax attack

LAS VEGAS — A 34-year-old man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges that he hacked a 4-month-old baby to death and critically wounded the infant’s mother with a medieval-style battle ax.

Clark County District Court Judge Stefany Miley on Monday set a June 2011 trial date for Harold Montague.

Montague could face the death penalty if convicted of charges including murder, attempted murder and battery with a deadly weapon in the Feb. 11 attack outside his Las Vegas home.

Montague also stands accused of stabbing his disabled sister-in-law before bursting outside and attacking the child and the mother walking a stroller past his house.

Defense lawyer Norm Reed says Montague understands the charges against him, but a jury will see he’s criminally insane.