LaPORTE CO. — A LaPorte County legal secretary is facing her own legal battle. Kathy Phillips made her first appearance in court Friday to face charges of murdering a baby. She pleaded not guilty to murder and neglect of a dependent.

Police testified at a probable cause hearing, that DNA showed the baby girl belonged to her and her husband. Officers also said that Garry Phillips told them he found the baby in a trash bag back in march in the couple's yard.

Phillps’ family says she is too thin to have hidden a pregnancy; they say they have pictures to prove it. They also say the past few months have been a nightmare.

“You always see it on the TV, read it in the newspapers or hear it on the radio -- now we’re living it,” Phillips’ brother, Jason Ruminski, told WSBT News.

“This case obviously has certain heart string-type pullings on it because it's a child, an infant child,” said prosecutor Robert Beckman. “But the law enforcement investigation here would be no different than if it were an adult decedent.”

The prosecutor reminded people not to leap to conclusions about the case. He wants the information to go to a jury and he wants to make sure the trial is fair.

The trial date is set for March 12, 2007 -- exactly one year since from the date the baby was found.

Click here to read a transcript of Phillips' Probable Cause hearing. (requires Adobe reader)