A 45-year-old man charged with stabbing a 34-year-old man at a Waikiki hostel is scheduled to go on trial in April.

Charles Crawford of Waikiki is charged with second-degree attempted murder for critically wounding Kevin Szal on Feb. 8.

Crawford pleaded not guilty before Circuit Judge Richard Perkins on Thursday via closed-circuit video link from Oahu Community Correctional Center where he is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

His trial is set for the week of April 21 before Circuit Judge Edward Kubo.

During his arraignment, Crawford said he wanted to make a statement about news reports of the stabbing. But both Perkins and Crawford’s public defender attorney told the defendant that he should make a statement before Kubo.

Crawford allegedly admitted to the stabbing to a police officer responding to reports of an argument just after 8 p.m. at the Hale Liu Hostel on Lemon Road, according to a police affidavit filed in Honolulu District Court.

A witness told police she saw Crawford standing over the victim, holding a knife. Another witness reported seeing Crawford choking Szal. Several men standing on the balconies at the hostel, where Crawford resided, also told police Crawford "did it," the affidavit said.