The man charged with driving under the influence and striking and killing two cousins Tuesday night entered a plea of "not guilty" in court Thursday morning.
Joshua Malmgren, 30, was arrested at the scene of the accident on Bayshore Drive in Middle Township, New Jersey that killed Ashley Dauber, 13 and her cousin Nioami Lazicki, 15.
Family says the cousins and Lazicki's sister Farrahanne were walking home when they were hit by Malmgren, who was intoxicated, according to police.
NBC10's Ted Greenberg was in the courtroom Thursday when lawyers entered a "not guilty" plea on behalf of a visibily upset Malmgren.
Also in the courtroom was the suspects sister, parents and the mother of two of his four children.
Malmgren's sister told NBC10 that her brother had had a couple of drinks, but was not drunk at the time of the accident.
Prosecutors are looking to upgrade the charges of Death by Vehicular Homicide, a second degree charge, to first degree Aggravated Manslaughter as well as raise Malmgren's $50,000 bail. His bail hearing is scheduled for next Monday.
His family asked that he be put on suicide watch while he's behind bars.
The families of the victims were not in court.
