MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee man accused of killing seven women in 21 years has decided against changing his pleas to resolve the case.

Walter Ellis, 50, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree intentional homicide or first-degree murder in the deaths of the women, who were killed between 1986 and 2007.

Some of the victims' relatives showed up in court today after being notified that Ellis would change his pleas. Instead, prosecutors and the defense attorney, Patrick Earle, took up routine trial motions about evidence and witnesses.

The district attorney's office had previously indicated there might be some resolution to the case after a hearing Wednesday. But during a break in court today, Earle said his client had decided he would not change his plea. Earle said a guilty plea was never discussed but wouldn't make any other comment.

Virgie Smith-Norwood, the sister of Irene Smith who was killed in 1992, was disappointed the case wasn't resolved.

`"I'm mad,'' she said outside court. "I'm sad because they are letting him get away with all this stuff. He's been getting away with it too long, too long.''

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm would only say prosecutors are preparing for trial.