Franklin Regional H.S. Stabbing Suspect's Trial Postponed

GREENSBURG (KDKA/AP) - The trial for a man charged with slashing and stabbing 20 fellow students and a security guard at Franklin Regional High School has been postponed until Oct. 3.

Alex Hribal is now 18, but was just 16 when he was accused in the April 2014 rampage.

His trial had been set to begin on Aug. 1 in Westmoreland County but online court records posted Wednesday show it has been postponed more than two months.

District Attorney John Peck and Hribal's attorney, Patrick Thomassey, didn't immediately return messages for comment on the delay.

Thomassey has acknowledged that Hribal committed the attacks using two 8-inch kitchen knives from his home, but has argued it was fueled by the defendant's mental health issues.

A judge previously denied a request by Hribal's attorneys to move his case to juvenile court.

Hribal's attorney highly disagrees with the decision.

"Anyone who goes to adult prison with a psychiatric problem, if you think they get help, then you are very much misinformed. All they do is medicate them and warehouse them. That's why they reoffend," said Patrick Thomassey. "That's why it was so important to get Mr. Hribal into the juvenile system where they intensely work with these young people."

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