Hribal seeks to plead guilty but mentally ill
The defense attorney for Alex Hribal, charged in the 2014 knife attack at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, has asked a judge for a hearing to change his plea in the case to guilty but mentally ill.
The 18-year-old from Murrysville pleaded not guilty to 21 counts each of attempted homicide and aggravated assault after police said he stabbed or cut 20 classmates and a security guard on April 9, 2014, with a pair of kitchen knives. His attorney, Patrick Thomassey, filed the motion Friday to schedule the hearing.
Mr. Hribal was to have faced trial Monday in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court, but the case has been postponed to Oct. 3.
“I intend to react to the evidence he presents on this issue,” said Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck.
“I have not seen a report or an indication that he would fit as a person who’s guilty but mentally ill.”
Mr. Thomassey could not be reached Friday. Judge Christopher Feliciani will preside over the hearing.
Mr. Hribal, who faces years in prison if convicted, has been in the Westmoreland County jail since he turned 18 in October.
Mr. Thomassey has argued his client would receive better mental health treatment in the juvenile system and sought to have the case moved out of adult court, a request Judge Feliciani denied in May.
Authorities said Mr. Hribal wrote a manifesto in which he expressed admiration for the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre and planned to carry out his own attack.