Man pleads not guilty to new charges in hammer attack

<p>The man accused of attacking an elementary school student with a hammer has pleaded not guilty to additional charges.</p><p>After the February 2002 attack, Chad Hagaman, 29, of Lilburn, was initially charged with aggravated battery, aggravated assault and carrying weapons on school grounds.</p><p>But when a plea deal prosecutors and Hagaman's attorney were negotiating fell through, the state sought four additional counts of second-degree cruelty to children and one count of burglary on a new indictment.</p><p>The second-degree cruelty charges are based on evidence that four of the victim's classmates witnessed the attack, and the burglary charge stems from Hagaman allegedly entering the school unlawfully with intent to commit a felony.</p><p>Johnny Moore, Hagaman's court-appointed attorney, said Tuesday that he has not yet decided whether to use an insanity defense.</p><p>Saying he heard voices in his head, Hagaman allegedly walked into Mountain Park Elementary School on Feb. 21, 2002, and struck 10-year-old student Anna "Elisabeth" Leake in the head with a claw hammer, which embedded in her skull, authorities said.</p><p>The girl had to undergo emergency brain surgery and eventually recovered from injuries. Leake's parents have since filed a civil lawsuit, against the Gwinnett County School System.</p><p>No court date has been set for Hagaman's trial, according to prosecutor Jim Miskell.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x286671c)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/3/172628