A University of Wyoming student accused of stabbing a classmate in February denied the charge Monday morning in Albany County District Court.

Meshari Aldhafeeri, 32, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated assault-bodily injury with a deadly weapon. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and have to pay a $10,000 fine.

Police officers and a Laramie Fire Department ambulance responded to an apartment in the 200 block of N. 8th St. shortly after 11 p.m. on Feb. 26, after the victim called 911 and said he had been stabbed. Court documents say the victim told responding officers Aldhafeeri was the person who stabbed him.

The affidavit says the victim was taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital with stab wounds on his left shoulder and under his left armpit. Aldhafeeri also went to the hospital – he was injured, but none of the injuries were stab wounds.

Aldhafeeri reportedly told police he fell down the stairs, but later said he was in a fight.

According to Laramie Police Lieutenant Gwen Smith, the initial investigation indicated the victim and Aldhafeeri knew each other and were fighting across the street from the UW campus in the Turtle Rock Coffee & Café parking lot when Aldhafeeri allegedly stabbed the victim.

Court documents say police recovered both the blade and handle of a broken steak knife, and the blade had “fluffy material on it that seemed to match the victim’s coat.”

According to the affidavit, Aldhafeeri allegedly admitted to retrieving the knife from his car before he approached the victim.

Judge Jeffrey Donnell on Monday ordered Aldhafeeri to surrender his passport. Aldhafeeri remains free on $10,000 cash bond.

Aldhafeeri is set to stand trial Aug. 15-16.

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