A Suffolk man who is maintaining his innocence in the October 2004 death of his girlfriend will stand trial for murder this fall.

Barry Gainey, 42, of 201 Lee St. pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of Bridgete White in Suffolk Circuit Court on Thursday. Gainey, who was indicted in January, waived arraignment and will have a jury trial on Oct. 16.

His attorney, Greg Matthews, declined to comment on the case, saying only, &uot;He has a defense.&uot;

White’s death was originally believed to have been caused by a terminal illness. But after the Suffolk News-Herald and people from around the local neighborhood raised questions, police stepped up their investigation and determined that White died from a ruptured spleen and internal bleeding caused by a blunt force trauma.

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com