Woman Accused of Killing WNBA Player Makes Court Appearance
MILWAUKEE - The woman accused of killing a star basketball player pleaded not guilty in a Milwaukee County courtroom Wednesday.
27-year old Malika Willoughby didn't say much in court, only telling the judge she wanted to waive her preliminary hearing.
"I've been told that you do not wish to hold this hearing. Is that correct?" asked David Sweet.
"Yes," said Willoughby.
She is now set to go to trial for allegedly killing her girlfriend of 14 years, 30-year old Rosalind Ross.
Ross was a basketball star at Bradley Tech and at the University of Oklahoma. She even made it to the WNBA.
But that star burned out a couple weeks ago when investigators believe Willoughby shot and killed Ross outside of Popeye's near 62nd and Silver Spring.
Ross's parents say the two were having problems.
"She loved everyone. She loved basketball. She was just a great person," said Spencer Ross, Rosalind's brother.
Ross was in court wearing a t-shirt with his older sister's picture on it.
Not only has this been tough losing his sister, he and his family were also very close with Willoughby.
"That hurts the most when it was someone so close to the family," he said.
That closeness was on full display outside of court when Willoughby's father, Craig Harp, embraced Ross's father, apologizing on his daughter's behalf.
"It definitely means a lot to our family," said Ross.
"I wanted to give my condolences to the family. I'm so sorry for their loss," said Harp with tears streaming down his eyes. "May God be with us all."
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