Scene of Topsail stabbing 'chaotic,' court told at Nicholas Layman hearing

Emotional details from the night a young boy was stabbed on a soccer field outside St. John's last year and his subsequent recovery were heard during a not-criminally-responsible hearing for Nicholas Layman Tuesday.

Layman, 20, admitted to stabbing the 11-year-old boy on a Topsail soccer pitch last September, but his lawyer Mark Gruchy said his client is not criminally responsible.

Layman, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, has been remanded to the Waterford Hospital for treatment since the incident happened.

Layman was told by a voice in his head to attack the boy, a forensic physiatrist testified Tuesday afternoon. 

The case had been moved to a larger courtroom for the hearing, as members of Layman's family and the boy's family filled into the room.

Some people in the courtroom were wearing green jerseys and ribbons, with small soccer balls pins. 

Soccer field 'chaotic'

In an agreed statement of facts, Crown prosecutor Frances Knickle said the stabbing happened in front of young players and coaches.

Witnesses at the scene described seeing Layman sitting alone in the bleachers prior to the attack.

He went behind the boy, whose identify is protected by a publication ban, and stabbed him multiple times in the back, chest and throat.

There is no known motive. 

Two adults on the field — one whom was a nurse — were credited with saving the boy's life by applying pressure to his throat.

Attack happened in seconds

The attack itself was described as happening within seconds, but the scene afterward was called "chaotic" as children frantically fled the field. 

After the attack happened, witnesses said they saw the attacker throw a black-handled knife over a fence before he scaled it and ran to a car. 

Layman was later arrested by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, without resistance, in Conception Bay South. 

Arresting officers noted Layman seemed "out of it," and had indicated to police that he hadn't been taking the medication he was prescribed. 

The boy underwent multiple surgeries, and despite him returning to the game of soccer, the full extent of the damage will not be known until he is older, the court was told. 

Voices

Dr. Jasbir Gill, who completed a psychiatric report for the court, said Layman heard a familiar man's voice telling him to attack the child.

Layman indicated he felt bothered by the voice but "didn't think about it" because he said there was no other choice, Gill said.

In the months leading up to the stabbing, Gill said, Layman wasn't properly taking his medication, and in late 2013 was hospitalized for believing seven men were going to come after him and kill him.

Gill said Layman had noted he was carrying a knife the night of the stabbing, which wasn't uncommon, and had been present at the soccer field to watch his sister on the pitch.

Layman faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon. 

Gill will return to the stand in December for the continuation of the hearing. 

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