One of the two juveniles accused of killing Brianna Ghey, 16, has entered a not-guilty plea.
On February 11, Brianna, a transgender teenager from Birchwood in Warrington, Cheshire, was discovered dead from stab wounds on a walkway in Culcheth Linear Park.
She was killed, allegedly, by a boy and a girl both 16 years old.
One of the defendants entered a not guilty plea during a case management hearing on Thursday at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
The other defendant did not enter a plea.
Reporting restrictions prevent the identification of which of the defendants entered the plea.
Neither defendant can be named because of their age.
Parents of both teenagers, who appeared separately in the dock, were in court for the hearing.
Mrs Justice Yip told the court: ‘It’s a case in which I know emotions are likely to run high, that’s very understandable.
‘There has been a lot of publicity about it already.
‘We’re going to make sure that this case proceeds in a calm manner in court in a way that is going to be entirely fair to everybody.’
A further hearing will be held on October 4.
A trial has been set for November 27 and is expected to last three weeks at Manchester Crown Court.
The girl, from Warrington, and the boy, from Leigh, are both currently held in secure accommodation.