Prosecutors say a 27-year-old woman has been charged in a Bronx apartment fire in April that killed her two young daughters.
Haya Konte pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Tuesday on charges of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.
Investigators say burning incense caused the fire that claimed the lives of the two toddlers who were left alone in the apartment while Konte did laundry across the street. There were also no working smoke detectors in the public housing apartment.
Her lawyer called it a tragedy and said there was no evidence that Konte switched off the alarms.
Konte is due back in court Sept. 7.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
