The suspect who allegedly killed a fellow Bally Total Fitness member with a barbell in the club pleaded not guilty to a murder charge last Friday.
Kenneth Osako, 46, entered the plea in a Redwood City, CA, courtroom, TV station KTVU reported. Osako also is charged with the use of a deadly weapon, according to the report.
The alleged incident took place Sept. 17 in a Bally club in South San Francisco. The victim was Diego Galindo, 43. According to prosecutors, Galindo had been talking to Osako's girlfriend at the club two days prior and jokingly asked her to take a ride on his motorcycle.
Police said Osako got into a confrontation with Galindo and "used a solid steel bar, normally used to lift weights, to strike the victim on his head several times." Osako reportedly dropped the barbell and left the scene. He was later arrested by police and a special agent with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Osako will reappear in court on Nov. 21 to schedule a preliminary hearing date, the TV station reported. The investigation into the motive for the killing continues.