A Denver judge entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the gang member accused of gunning down Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams over the objections of the man's defense attorneys.

Denver District Judge Christina Habas said she wanted to get the case against Willie Clark moving and set a two-week trial to begin July 6.

Defense attorneys wanted two more months to review evidence.

Arraignment already had been postponed from December.

Habas also refused to set bond or permit Clark's lawyers at Friday's hearing to call witnesses who testified before the grand jury that indicted him Oct. 8.

Defense attorney Darren Cantor argued the grand jury received distorted testimony from the witnesses, who were guided by prosecutors and are not cross-examined during the grand jury process. He said testimony from some of the witnesses would show the judge the case against Clark isn't as strong as prosecutors contend and prompt her to set bond.

But Habas said the letter that Clark allegedly wrote confessing the murder convinced her that a "likelihood" of his conviction exists.

Other issues should be left to the jury, she said.

Defense attorneys contend the letter appears to have been "cobbled" together, although Clark has admitted that it is his handwriting.

Cantor said the witness who turned over the letter was motivated to "fake" the letter to get reward money and favors from the government.

The letter was first obtained by the Rocky and reported in the paper's May 30 editions last year. At the urging of the newspaper, the source gave a copy of the letter to the Denver District Attorney's Office.

Other witnesses also received deals or money from the government, Cantor said. One witness who identified Clark as the only shooter received the "functional equivalent" of $1 million for his testimony, Cantor charged, although his story contradicts other police interviews.

Williams was shot and killed in his Hummer limousine early on New Year's Day 2007 as he and others left a Denver night club.

Clark, charged as the gunman, was indicted Oct. 8 on 39 counts, including first-degree murder of the 24-year-old football star and 16 counts of attempted murder of others in the limo. Clark is also charged in the 2006 killing of Kalonniann Clark (no relation), a witness set to testify in the drug case against Brian Hicks, owner of the car that Clark was riding in when Williams was killed.

Timeline of Darrent Williams case

* Jan. 1, 2007: Darrent Williams is shot and killed while riding in a Hummer limousine with teammate Javon Walker and 14 other passengers after leaving the Safari Club, a Denver nightclub at 1037 Broadway.

* Jan. 4: The SUV that police believe was used in the drive-by shooting is found abandoned and spray-painted in northeast Denver. Police say it's registered to gang leader Brian Hicks, who is in jail.

* Jan. 5: Willie D. Clark is arrested on a parole violation. At a news conference, police say they want to talk to him about the murder.

* Feb. 27: Hicks is ordered to stand trial on federal drug charges.

* April 26: Federal authorities announce indictments against more than 70 gang members accused of selling drugs. Prosecutors say they hope the charges will motivate some of the gang members to start talking about the unsolved murders.

* July 23: Clark is added to the federal drug indictment. Authorities say they believe everyone responsible for the Williams murder is in jail, although no one is charged.

* Early 2008: A source approaches the Rocky Mountain News and says he has information that could implicate Clark in the Williams shooting.

* April 2008: The source provides the Rocky with a copy of a letter he says was written by Clark. The source agrees to meet with prosecutors.

* March 20: For the second time in less than a year, federal prosecutors file drug charges against Veronica Garcia, Hicks' former girlfriend, in a move to increase pressure on her to provide information.

* May 2008: The Rocky source meets twice with prosecutors, who analyze the handwriting and say it comes back as a preliminary match.

* Sept. 4: Garcia tells police she loaned Clark the white Chevy Tahoe used in the Williams murder.

* Oct. 8: Clark indicted in the murder of Williams.

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