Man accused of killing his 2 children pleads not guilty

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Capital murder suspect John Deblase was back in court on Tuesday for a motion hearing during which FOX10 News learned his defense team has changed its plea.

Deblase’s defense attorney, Jim Sears, had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In court on Dec. 18, we learned that plea has since changed to not guilty.

Defense Attorney Jim Sears said, "This is a legal strategy that we have and it was appropriate to do."

Prosecutors allege Deblase and his common law wife, Heather Keaton, are accused of torturing, poisoning and dumping the bodies of the children in two different wooded areas in 2010.

Deblase sat inside Judge Rick Stout's courtroom noticeably thinner and with a shaven head on Tuesday. It's been two years since he was arrested and charged with the deaths of his two children: Natalie and Chase.

The defense says this change of plea is a legal strategy, but Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich says this could help bolster her case.

Rich said, "We never believed that he was crazy, we never believed there was anything wrong with him. It just solidifies our belief that he's not crazy, and there's nothing wrong with him. He's just a very evil person."

In court on Tuesday, both sides discussed questions that will be issued to potential jurors. But that trial will have to wait.

It was originally scheduled for next month, but the judge has allowed it to be pushed back to April.

Sears said, "There were areas that were not complete that needed to be complete and we just needed that time."

Rich said, "I'm very disappointed that its taken this long to bring this case to trial but we're gonna be ready. We've been ready every time it's been set for trial and we're ready for the next trial setting. And we want to make sure that justice is done in this case."

If convicted, Deblase could face the death penalty, capital murder trial is set to begin April 1.