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Trial date set for Franklin Regional HS stabbing suspect

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A trial date was set Tuesday for the teenager charged in the 2014 slashing and stabbing of 20 fellow students and a security guard at Franklin Regional High School.

Alex Hribal’s trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 7. Westmoreland County Judge Christopher Feliciani issued the trial date Tuesday.

Investigators said Hribal, now 19, used two 8-inch kitchen knives during the attack in the hallways of the high school. Four of the victims were critically injured, including one who required a liver transplant, but all survived and have since recovered.

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In February, Feliciani rejected a defense request to let Hribal plead guilty but mentally ill to the attempted homicide and aggravated assault charges he faces.

When asked Tuesday if he believes he was mentally ill, Hribal said, “At that time, yeah. But now? Not sure.”

Defense attorney Patrick Thomassey acknowledges Hribal committed the attacks, but has argued he was psychotic at the time. Feliciani says Hribal may have been mentally ill, but that didn't render him incapable of knowing what he did was wrong -- which is the legal definition of insanity in Pennsylvania.

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With the trial date set, no more delays are expected. However, Hribal’s defense team is considering filing a motion to pick an out-of-county jury.

“Because of the amount of publicity -- things that have been written or said about the case, or rulings of mental health. So, a lot of times people come into cases like this with preformed opinions about guilt or innocence,” Thomassey said.

As Hribal and his defense team prepare for trial, Thomassey said he will continue to fight for a guilty but mentally ill verdict.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

Cox Media Group

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