Nicholas Layman facing Nova Scotia theft charges

A man who is accused of stabbing an 11-year-old boy on a soccer field near St. John's in September has had unrelated charges from Nova Scotia transferred to the courts in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nicholas Layman, 20, was represented by his lawyer Joan Dawson on Friday morning, as charges related to thefts were transferred to provincial court in St. John's.

Layman is accused of stealing and possessing stolen goods Sobeys, Atlantic Superstore, Sears and Walmart in Halifax, Dartmouth and Cole Harbour.

The thefts are alleged to have happened in May and June 2014, and did not exceed $5,000.

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Layman, who has been deemed fit to stand trial,is currently staying at the Waterford Hospital, while he awaits future court proceedings.

He is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

The boy who was stabbed has recovered from his injuries, and was released from hospital about two weeks after the incident, whichmade national headlines. He cannot be named because of a publication ban.

In an interview with CBC News in October, Layman's parents spoke candidly about his history with mental illness, and said that he had refused to take the medication he had been prescribed.