The first death-penalty trial here since Hawai'i abolished capital punishment in the 1950s is scheduled to begin in October of next year.

Army Spc. Naeem Williams pleaded not guilty yesterday to a charge of murdering his 5-year-old daughter, Talia, who died July 16 last year. He faces the death penalty, which was authorized earlier this year by U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Federal Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobaya-shi yesterday set Williams' trial for Oct. 16, which is later than usual because of legal issues that may arise with a death-penalty case.

Williams' wife, Delilah, is also scheduled to go on trial with him on a charge of murdering Talia, but the attorney general did not authorize the death-penalty prosecution for her. Delilah Williams has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Both defendants are being held without bail at the Federal Detention Center near the airport.

Naeem Williams had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, but had to be arraigned again because of a new indictment earlier this month that added his wife as a defendant.

Talia died from "head trauma due to battered-child syndrome," according to the city Medical Examiner's Office.

Hawai'i abolished execution in 1957, but Congress has authorized the death penalty for certain federal murder cases.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.