2 men accused in deadly Wendy's shooting plead not guilty

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The two men accused in the murders of five fast food employees found bound and gagged in a freezer at a Queens restaurant last May pleaded not guilty at their arraignments Thursday.

John Taylor, 36, and Craig Godineaux, 30, were both indicted and arraigned on multiple charges, including first- and second-degree murder and robbery. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown has until November 24 to decide whether he will seek the death penalty in the case.

The pair allegedly walked into the Wendy's restaurant, where Taylor once worked, and bound and gagged the seven workers there on the night of May 24.

The group was blindfolded and plastic bags were placed over their heads. They were then forced into a basement freezer where they were shot, execution-style. Two employees survived. Prosecutors said the two also robbed the store's safe.

Both Taylor and Godineaux have made conflicting statements to law enforcement about the details of the robbery and murders.

When police arrested Taylor days later at his mother's home, they found a weapon and more than $2,000 in cash, the same amount that was reported to be missing from the restaurant.

Taylor has been indicted in the past on charges stemming from several other armed robberies of area fast food restaurants in recent years.

He was also indicted for jumping bail in a case related to one of those restaurant robberies in the late 1990s.

Both Taylor and Godineaux will be back in court November 20, but a trial is not expected to get underway for a few months after that date.

Both men are currently being held without bail.

CNN Producer Kurt Mack contributed to this report.

Suspects in Wendy's shootings arraigned
May 29, 2000
Suspect in Wendy's murder case placed on suicide watch
May 28, 2000
Two suspects in Wendy's shootings arrested
May 26, 2000
New York restaurant shootings leave 5 dead; Wendy's, police offer reward
May 25, 2000

New York City Police Department
Wendy's Restaurant
New York State Unified Court System

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.