COURTROOM VIDEO: Suspects arraigned

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Sixteen-year-old John Freeman is accused of killing Bella with his bare hands. His roommate, 18-year-old Tyler Best, is charged with helping dump her body in a trash can.

The Niagara City courtroom was so packed with family members and community members, that courtroom officials had to come in and excuse everyone but close family. Everyone stayed quiet, some filled with tears Tuesday.

Freeman pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in Niagara Falls City Court, Tuesday morning.

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Freeman’s former Cadet leader Christopher DiDonna said, “I’m shocked and very heartbroken that one of my cadets would do this after learning all he did in the Cadet program.”

Best was also in court Tuesday, and pleaded not guilty to tampering with evidence.

One person showed up, just to show his support. Phillip Krehan said, “I don’t want to see any kid get their life cut short, not matter what the reason is. And for somebody to do such a heartless, despicable crime, it just shows how the heartlessness of this city is just getting worse.”

Note: The judge in this case ordered that the suspects' faces be blurred in video of the arraignment because they may be eligible for youthful offender status. However, the judge did not rule photos or videos obtained from other sources or authorities had to be obscured.