Brad Cooper pleads not guilty

A Cary man accused of murdering his wife in July 2008 entered a not guilty plea during pre-trial motions Friday in Wake County Superior Court.

Posted 4:11 p.m. Feb 4, 2011 — Updated 5:08 p.m. Feb 4, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Cary man accused of murdering his wife in July 2008 entered a not guilty plea during pre-trial motions Friday in Wake County Superior Court.

Jury selection in Brad Cooper's murder trial is set to begin Feb. 28. Opening statements and testimony will begin March 7.

Superior Court Judge Paul Gessner allowed a motion limiting coverage of certain witnesses, meaning that the media will not be able to identity them when they testify.

Undercover FBI agents were involved in the case, and prosecutors want to protect their identities during the trial.

Cooper told investigators that his wife, Nancy Cooper, went jogging on the morning of July 12, 2008, and never returned home. Her body was found two days later about 3 miles from the Coopers' home. An autopsy determined that she had likely been strangled.

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