Mark Hacking pleads not guilty

Appearing to be on the verge of tears, Mark Hacking nodded silently in agreement as his attorney entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf in 3rd District Court Friday.

Hacking, 28, is charged with one felony count of murder and three second-degree felony counts of obstruction of justice in connection with the July 19 death and disappearance of his wife, Lori Hacking.

The "not guilty" plea opens the way to a trial next spring. A trial date was set for April 18 by Judge Denise Lindberg. Mark Hacking's attorney, D. Gilbert Athay, told Lindberg he expects the trial to last one week.

Athay declined comment after the hearing, saying only, "We don't discuss these things."

Salt Lake prosecutor Robert Stott said he would not speculate as to what defense Athay might try to mount.

The plea keeps the Soares family mired in pain, Lori's mother, Thelma Soares, said.

"In pleading not guilty, Mark continues to hurt us, and I feel outraged in Lori's behalf as he heaps insult upon injury," Soares said, reading from a written statement outside the courtroom. "But I am not too concerned about the legal posturing our imperfect legal system allows, because I know that one day Mark will receive perfect judgment from the only judge who knows every detail of what he did that terrible night in July."

In a letter sent to the Salt Lake County Jail last month, Lori's brother, Paul Soares, begged with Mark to plead guilty and end the suffering for both families. Paul Soares said he wanted to avoid a trial.

But Scott Hacking, Mark's brother, said a trial might answer some of the questions family and others have about what happened between Mark and Lori that ultimately led to her death. Prosecutors believe Mark Hacking killed his wife of five years because she had uncovered his numerous lies, including his false claim to have been accepted to medical school.

"I have the same questions that you do," Scott Hacking said after the hearing, which he attended with several siblings and his parents, Douglas and Janet Hacking. "I hope to know all of those answers eventually."

Mark Hacking, who appeared in court in tan jail clothing, wrist and ankle shackles and a bulletproof vest, made no eye contact with family members. Court security was heavy, with about seven bailiffs present in court and in the hallways after the hearing.