10-year-old pleads not guilty in stabbing death of 12-year-old friend

(CBS/KFMB) SAN DIEGO - A 10-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing his 12-year-old friend in the driveway of his home pleaded not guilty before a judge Thursday to charges of murder and felony assault with a deadly weapon.

CBS affiliate KFMB, the 10-year-old entered a "not true" plea, the juvenile equivalent of not guilty, to Juvenile Court Judge Carolyn Caietti. The boy answered yes when Caietti asked him if he would agree to have his hearing on Feb. 23, rather than sooner.

The mother of the victim, 12-year-old Ryan Carter, was present at the hearing, but did not speak.

The suspect will undergo a psychological evaluation and his competency will be addressed at the next hearing, Marian Gaston, Deputy Public Defender said.

The 10-year-old was described by neighbors as a troubled kid prone to outbursts of anger and aggression. He allegedly stabbed Carter in the chest on Monday on his driveway near El Cajon.

Carter was rushed to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where he was pronounced dead.

If convicted, the 10-year-old could be held in the Juvenile Justice system until age 25. A child under 14 can't be tried in adult court.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports Caietti ordered the boy to remain held in Juvenile Hall, saying that option was best for his safety and the welfare of the community. A representative from probation told the judge the 10-year-old had been following the rules and "participating well" while in custody

"This is a tragic, tragic case for everybody involved," Deputy District Attorney Victor Barr told reporters outside court. "It's tragic for the victim, the victim's family. It's tragic for the minor and the minor's family."

According to Barr, the decision to charge the boy with murder was made after a meeting between senior attorneys. The prosecutor said he couldn't remember the last time a child as young as the accused was prosecuted for murder in San Diego.

So far there is no clear motive in the case.