Report: Maren Sanchez Stabbing Suspect Appears In Court

The 16-year-old suspect accused of stabbing to death his friend and fellow Jonathan Law High School classmate Maren Sanchez last Friday made his first public appearance in court Friday, according to a New Haven Register report.

Christopher Plaskon has been charged with murder as an adult in Sanchez's death. Plaskon was originally arrested as a juvenile, but the charge has since been moved to adult court. 

In various press reports, the Jonathan Law junior has been described as a popular, funny and athletic teenager, who was also a longtime friend of Sanchez. 

Some have suggested Plaskon's fatal attack on the 16-year-old honor student and former class president may have been spurred by her rejection of his offer to attend that night's junior prom together. The prom was postponed following her death.

Following his court appearance, Plaskon was sent to the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, the Register reports. There he will be on a "one-to-one suicide watch."

His defense attorney's told the court Friday that their client was ill, and was still suffering from psychosis.

Plaskon is scheduled to appear in court next June 4 for a probable cause hearing.

The cause remains under investigation by police.

The Register report of Plaskon's appearance in court Friday can be read in full here.