A white Chicago police officer charged with murder over the 2014 fatal shooting of black teen Laquan McDonald has pleaded not guilty.
Accused Jason Van Dyke claims he wants to tell his side of the story and has been "hanging in there", lawyer Dan Herbert says.
A change of venue for the trial, set in Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, is still possible after large demonstrations have been staged outside the court.
Van Dyke, 37, is charged with six counts of first-degree murder and one charge of official misconduct for the death of the 17-year-old.
In court on Tuesday (local time), Van Dyke's lawyer entered the plea on his behalf. Judge Vincent Gaughan has set the next hearing for January 29.
Dashcam video of the shooting was released last month, and shows Van Dyke shooting Mr McDonald 16 times. The teenager was holding a knife and moving away from officers when Van Dyke fired.
The footage has caused widespread outrage and sparked days of street demonstrations, leading to the resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.
The Chicago Police Department is now the subject of a broad federal civil rights investigation.
Over the weekend two black Chicago residents – a 19-year-old and a 55-year-old woman – were shot by police offers. That incident is now under investigation.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is under increasing pressure to resign.
Van Dyke was suspended from the police force without pay following the charges.
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