Shocking new details emerge in slaying of Bobby Maher, 14, who was killed protecting his girlfriend as one of two suspects pleads not guilty
New details have been revealed in court over the gruesome death of Bobby Maher after he was killed while protecting his girlfriend.
The Wyoming teen, 14, was stabbed to death in April outside a busy shopping mall, allegedly by two 15-year-olds, Dominique Harris and Jarreth Plunkett, who were following his girlfriend.
Both Harris and Plunkett are being tried as adults, and at a preliminary hearing this week Harris pleaded not guilty to a number of charges including conspiracy to murder.
The court heard how Harris and Plunkett allegedly targeted Maher after he caught them exiting a portable toilet together the week before the murder, where he branded them 'freaks.'
When they set upon him at the mall, Harris allegedly slammed Maher to the ground and held him there while Plunkett used a stolen Target kitchen knife to stab him to death.
Bobby Maher, 14, was stabbed to death in April, with it heard this week that one alleged attacker held him down while another stabbed him with a stolen Target kitchen knife
The 14-year-old was fatally stabbed on the steps of the Eastridge Mall (pictured), allegedly by two teen suspects who were stalking his girlfriend around the mall
Bobby's grisly death sparked widespread outrage and shocked the town of Casper, Wyoming, where vigils and tributes have remembered him for months.
The middle schooler reportedly knew both of his alleged killers, and prosecutors say that the crime was triggered by the incident at a park the week before where Bobby called them 'freaks.'
The teen's girlfriend then called him when she visited the Eastridge Mall in early April to allegedly warn him that Harris and Plunkett were following her around.
Bobby raced to the mall to help her, where - according to preliminary hearings for the suspects - reported video footage showed Harris and Plunkett wearing masks and confronting the teen at the entrance to the mall.
After the two suspects allegedly pulled out the stolen Target knives, Bobby was heard telling them it 'wasn't fair' and that he didn't want to fight.
Court records claimed Harris then grappled with the 14-year-old and held him down while Plunkett repeatedly stabbed him outside the mall.
According to Cowboy State Daily, in a police interview Harris admitted to holding Maher down during the attack, but claimed it 'was to make sure the fight was over.'
Maher is pictured with a female friend in a tribute shared on Facebook after his death. It's unclear if she is one of the girls he was protecting when he died
The heartbroken girlfriend of Bobby Maher, 14, sobbed as she called him 'the bravest boy' and said they had 'so many plans for the future' together before his death
The details were released as Harris pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, aggravated battery and assault, and misdemeanor theft.
Plunkett had previously pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental illness or deficiency to four charges, including first-degree murder.
But Harris' attorney signaled this week that his client may change his plea citing mental illness or deficiency.
Tributes have poured in for Bobby following his senseless death, with the girlfriend he saved calling him 'the bravest boy' in a heartbreaking eulogy.
She said that he had 'no hard feelings for anybody', and broke down as she told of how they 'had so many plans for the future.'
Speaking of the attack that led to Bobby's death, she said: 'I'm sorry for everyone that had to witness that.
'I know he loved (his family) so much. Me and Bobby, we had so many plans for the future.
'I never thought I'd be saying all this so early.'
Robert 'Bobby' Maher's father Robert Maher Sr. told DailyMail.com, 'It is a nightmare we can't get out of our heads – it's playing over and over again'
Bobby's father told DailyMail.com in the wake of his son's death that the memory of the stabbing is 'a nightmare we can't get out of our heads.'
'His mother saw her youngest child die. We will never be okay with this, not ever,' he said.
Bobby died the day after the family had moved into a new house after a month in temporary accommodation following the loss of their previous home.
The boy never saw their new home as he was staying with a friend's family while his own sorted out their housing issue, and Bobby's father said the family is now trying to cope in their new mobile home.
'Mornings are the worst,' he said. 'When I wake up every morning it's a nightmare that is a reality.
'It takes me hours in the morning to be even able to talk. His mother and siblings are devastated we can barely function. Never would I wish this on anyone.'
