The attempted murder trial of the former Franklin Regional High School student accused of stabbing 20 students and a security guard in a knife rampage two years ago will be delayed until at least October.

Jury selection in the trial of Alex Hribal, 18, of Murrysville had been scheduled to start Aug. 1.

Pam Niederhiser, Westmoreland County deputy court administrator, said Wednesday that lawyers in the case have indicated the delay is necessary because they are not ready for trial.

Niederhiser said a pretrial conference will be scheduled before Judge Christopher Feliciani in September to determine a trial date.

A court order signed by Feliciani was filed Wednesday granting a defense motion to postpone the case. Defense attorney Pat Thomassey, according to a previous filing, said he was out of town for a pretrial conference before the judge scheduled it for July 22.

Hribal is being held at the Westmoreland County jail without bail in the attacks that occurred April 9, 2014. Police contend Hribal took two kitchen knives to school and slashed and stabbed 20 students and a security guard before the start of classes that morning. Several of the students were seriously injured.

Hribal, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was charged as an adult.

The case has been in the court system for more than two years as the defense sought unsuccessfully to have the prosecution transferred to juvenile court.

District Attorney John Peck has said he will discuss with victims a possible plea bargain for Hribal. Peck was not available for comment Wednesday.

Thomassey said this month that plea bargain talks had not been fruitful and the case likely was headed for a trial. He was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.

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