CLEVELAND — Defense attorneys representing Bionca Ellis, the woman accused of stabbing 3-year-old Julian Wood to death at a North Olmsted Giant Eagle in June of 2024, have filed a motion expressing her intent to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

The motion — presented Wednesday to Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John J. Russo — marks a shift in strategy for Ellis and her team. The 34-year-old Cleveland native originally entered a simple not guilty plea after being indicted for aggravated murder, but her team will instead argue that while she did indeed kill Julian and injure his mother Margot, she "did not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect , the wrongfulness" of her actions.

"Defendant initially entered a plea of not guilty at her arraignment. However, a

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