Nicholas Layman's lawyer to argue not criminally responsible defence

The lawyer representing Nicholas Layman, who is accused of stabbing an 11-year-old boy on a soccer pitch near St. John's last September, will argue his client was not criminally responsible.

Layman, 20, was scheduled to enter a plea during his court appearance in a provincial courtroom on Thursday morning.

However, the case was set over until July 9.

During Layman's last appearance, Crown attorney Phil LeFeuvreand defence lawyer Mark Gruchy received copies of a psychiatricreport on Layman, who has been remanded to the Waterford Hospital while his case makes its way through court.

He was charged withattempted murder, among other charges, after aboy was stabbed during a skills camp at a soccer field in the Topsail neighbourhood of Conception Bay South.

Layman's father and step-mother said their son began showing a change in behaviour when he was in high school.

It's expected pleas will be entered on the next court date.