In court, Battiloro's legal team talked of wanting a change in venue and hinted at a possible insanity defense. News 4's Adam Harding reports.

The 18-year-old New Jersey man who allegedly intentionally mowed down a pair of best friends on an e-bike last year pleaded not guilty Monday to a first-degree murder indictment.

Monday marked Vincent Battiloro's first in-person court appearance since his arrest in September 2025. He was 17 when he allegedly purposefully drove his SUV into Isabella Salas and Maria Niotis in Cranford, killing both of them. A judge ruled over the summer that he would be tried as an adult.

The victims' mothers were next to each other in court for the arraignment. Their daughters were both 17.

Witnesses had reported clearly perceiving Battiloro drive his Jeep into the girls, according to the charges. Law enforcement sources previously said the incident may have stemmed from a possible breakup or argument.

Battiloro was later arrested. He was cited for 15 motor vehicle infractions in addition to the murder charges.

Just one day after the deaths of Salas and Niotis, Battiloro referred to the crash in a YouTube livestream.

"I need to explain some things that happened over the past few days...There’s been a lot of misinformation going on over the internet but I will say this: I wish my sincerest condolences to those two girls lost in that tragic accident," he recorded himself saying on camera. "It is an absolute unfortunate situation and there's more to the story that you’re not getting. But when the time comes, I will explain it in greater detail."

After news broke of the charges, the police chief of neighboring Westfield shared on social media that he was related to the suspect. He didn't specify the nature of the relation but said Battiloro was not his son nor a "member of his immediate family," and condemned the behavior outlined in the charges.

At Monday's hearing, Battiloro's attorneys said they were filing for a change of venue. His next court hearing is scheduled for mid-December.

Attorneys representing families of the victims, meanwhile, released a statement after court, in part calling for a more thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.

"The Niotis and Salas families thank the Union County Prosecutor's Office and the law enforcement officers who have worked to seek justice for Maria and Isabella," the statement said. "But justice cannot be done in the dark. Maria and Isabella should be alive today. These families, and every parent in this community, deserve to know how this unspeakable catastrophe was allowed to happen."