BELFIELD, N.D. -- A Belfield man accused of stabbing his uncle in a drunken frenzy last October is pleading guilty to reckless endangerment after an attempted murder charge was dropped.
Brett Hlibichuk, 23, received the lesser charge after new testimony from his uncle, James Hlibichuk, 45, came to light.
Stark County State’s Attorney Tom Henning said that there originally was a lack of information to work with because the uncle was recuperating and unable to give a deposition of the incident. Based on the evidence at the time, Brett Hlibichuk was charged with attempted murder, a Class AA felony. However, Henning said that once the uncle recovered enough to speak with authorities, he said he did not wish to press charges on his nephew.
Brett Hlibichuk will be under a three-year supervised probation.
During a deposition, James Hlibichuk stated it was possible his nephew felt threatened after the two argued about Brett “getting his life in order.”
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The two were heavily intoxicated during the argument, Henning said. After this, Henning said Brett Hlibichuk stabbed his uncle twice in the abdomen and once in the neck.
