Nicholas Layman's family: 'That's not our child'

The family of a young man charged with attempted murder after a boy was stabbed in the neck in September says they were shocked by his actions, and that they never expected his troubles with mental illness would land him in court.

• Don't be quick to judge mental illness, says Nicholas Layman's family
• Topsail stabbing: Nicholas Layman, 19, charged with attempted murder

Nicholas Layman, 19, is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after an 11-year-old boy was stabbed during a skills camp at a soccer field in the Topsail neighbourhood of Conception Bay South.

He is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, following eight weeks of psychiatric examination at the Waterford Hospital in St. John's. 

The incident shocked the community, but perhaps no one was more shocked than Layman's own family.

His stepmother Doreen Layman said she and her husband were at a  concert in St. John's when the stabbing happened.

"The cellphone started going during the show, so we waited till intermission and we called back and asked, and that's when we found out," she said.

Family was in 'total disbelief'

Witnesses to the stabbing say Nicholas Layman was watching kids do their soccer drills on the evening of Sept. 25, when he jumped up from the bleachers, ran onto the field and stabbed a boy in the neck.

"It was utter shock. Total disbelief and utter shock that he would hurt somebody. That's not our child," said Doreen Layman.

When you know your child is hurting inside and they won't communicate it to you, you don't know what to do.- Doreen Layman, talking about Nicholas's mental health

The child Doreen and Scott Layman remember was sweet and energetic, active in school and community activities. That is, until high school, when there were signs of trouble. 

Nicholas Layman started failing classes and experienced moodiness. His family thought it was a case of the terrible teens, but over the past year, he grew worse.

Doreen Layman said the family was at a loss, and didn't know the extent of the problem.

"When you know your child is hurting inside and they won't communicate it to you, you don't know what to do," she said.

"Then when their friends contact you and say, 'Look, we're worried about Nicholas too,' then you're like who do you go to for help, what do we do, there are so many questions you don't know what to do."

Walking a fine line

It was around this time last year the Layman family called the Mental Health Crisis hotline. Two psychiatric nurses were sent to the home right away, and the meeting ended with Nicholas Layman making his first trip to the Waterford Hospital.

• Nicholas Layman to undergo further psychiatric assessment

"He agreed to go in and talk. They did diagnose him with a mental illness, but again I don't think deep down he believed it himself," said Doreen Layman.

She added that Nicholas was prescribed medication, but he didn't follow the instructions correctly all the time.

"It wasn't working and we weren't getting our answers, and then when he turned 19 and we still felt there was an issue and nothing was being solved and his medication wasn't being taken properly, we knew that," she said.

"We tried to get him back to the doctor and he wouldn't go, and we were like, there's nothing they can do. So this is such a fine line between, how do you help someone who is sick, and their rights, and this is where a family is stuck. What do you do?"

On getting through

For now, the courtroom and hospital are the only places where he gets to see his family. 

There's a pane of glass between the two of you and a speaker that does not work very well and I can't hear half the words he's saying.- Doreen Layman, on talking to Nicholas while he's in hospital

When they visit him at the hospital once a week, Doreen Layman said it's impossible to know if he understands what's going on.

"You're locked up in a little room and you talk to him. There's a pane of glass, he's locked in the other room, and there's a pane of glass between the two of you and a speaker that does not work very well and I can't hear half the words he's saying," she said.

"And his doctor calls you and says, 'Could you try to get him to talk? When you go down try to get him to talk to you,' but I can't hear half the words he's saying. How can I get him to talk?"

'Unconditional love'

Scott and Doreen Layman say this ordeal has been hell for the two families involved, and they're relieved the injured boy has recovered. They say they have apologized to the boy and to his parents.

As for Nicholas Layman, they're hoping he gets the treatment he needs — not just drugs — during his stay at the Waterford.

They are also asking others not to be quick to judge.

"You do learn unconditional love, because this child who has done something traumatic, you still love him. That's unconditional love and that's one lesson in this," said Doreen Layman.

She said the family is still trying to figure out if anything could have been done earlier to prevent the violence on the soccer field, but there's no clear answer yet.

Scott and Doreen Layman added they believe everything happens for a reason — good and bad — and they're just trying to find the good and shine a light on issues they've encountered trying to get their son help, so other families might learn from their experience.