MARYVILLE, Mo. -- A Tarkio, Mo., man will stand trial next year in the stabbing death of a Maryville man last March.

Steven Trent Sapp, 29, is charged with the second-degree murder of 40-year-old Steven A. Leach of Maryville. Investigators allege that Mr. Sapp and Mr. Leach were involved in a Mar. 30 fight at the house of his wife, Ruschia Leach, in Pickering, Mo.

At a preliminary hearing in May, Nodaway County Coroner Vince Shelby told the court Mr. Leach died from a cut to the brachial artery on his upper left arm. During the fight, Mr. Sapp allegedly stabbed Mr. Leach three times with a pocketknife. Nodaway County Sheriff Ben Espey said a puncture wound to the left inside bicep cut a major artery and resulted in massive blood loss.

The brachial artery runs from the shoulder down to the elbow.

Mr. Leach was able to drive his 2001 Ford F-150 pickup two blocks from the scene before losing consciousness and crashing. He had two of his children — 2- and 5-year-old daughers — with him in the truck at the time. They were treated and released from St. Francis Hospital.

Mr. Sapp remains in jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. He indicated at Monday's hearing that he plans to replace his public defender with a private attorney.

Mr. Sapp's trial is scheduled to begin on Feb. 25.