(CNN) — The man accused of ruthlessly killing two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, DC, earlier this year, chanting pro-Palestine slogans during his arrest, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to the nine charges against him, some of which could carry the death penalty.

The federal indictment against Elias Rodriguez, who prosecutors say shot and killed Israeli Embassy staff members Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside of an American Jewish Committee event in May, includes counts of premeditated murder and hate crimes resulting in death.

During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Randolph Moss and Rodriguez’s attorney, Elizabeth Mullin, noted it would take the defense team a good deal of time to go through and understand the death penalty case against him.

Mullin said she would need time

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