NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - The former UMass chef accused of killing his wife appeared in Hampshire Superior Court on the afternoon of Friday, July 10th — after a grand jury indictment moved the case out of district court.

During the arraignment, Jeffrey MacDonald entered a not guilty plea, but the hearing also included new accusations from the defense about information they claim was leaked to the media.

Friday marked an important step in this case — after a grand jury returned an indictment, Jeffrey MacDonald’s case has now officially moved from district court to superior court, where felony cases like murder are tried.

Former award-winning chef Jeffrey MacDonald traded his spatula for handcuffs as he appeared in Hampshire Superior Court where he entered a not guilty plea to the murder of his wife, Emma MacDonald, and agreed to remain held without bail.

But during the hearing, the defense accused the prosecution of allowing discovery materials to be leaked to the media, saying they’re concerned the case could be tried in the court of public opinion, “already I have seen materials released that should not have been released to the press and I have grave concerns about members of the prosecution team… behaving themselves and ensuring information isn’t leaked and we don’t have a trial happening out in the press,” the defense attorney Mary Saldarelli stated.

The defense asked the judge to address those concerns, but the judge declined to act on the motion, saying there was no affidavit or other significant evidence supporting the allegations.

“This is the first time in open court we’re hearing allegations the prosecution team has disclosed or leaked discovery materials. That is not supported by any sort of affidavit… frankly I think the defense counsel is quite mistaken about what she believes happened in this case,” prosecutor Stephen Gagne said.

Following the arraignment, Hampshire District Attorney Stephen Gagne told us prosecutors have also filed a motion asking the court to compel MacDonald to unlock his cell phone.

That motion is scheduled to be heard on September 3rd with a pretrial hearing set for October 27th.

Copyright 2026 Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.