Sypher denies charges in pre-trial court brief

LOUISVILLE — The woman charged with attempting to extort $10 million from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has denied the charges in a brief filed shortly before her trial.

Karen Sypher's attorney, James Earhart, filed the five-page brief Thursday. It details the charges against Sypher, as well as the elements prosecutors must prove to convict her and includes a single sentence saying she denies the charges.

Opening statements are set to begin July 26, with jury selection on July 12 and 13. Sypher is accused of demanding college tuition for her children, plus $10 million and her mortgage paid off.

Prosecutors filed a trial brief on Wednesday detailing the charges, as well as several witnesses and key evidence they plan to use at trial.

This story was originally published July 9, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Sypher denies charges in pre-trial court brief."