COEUR d'ALENE - A 30-year-old Post Falls man on Friday pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted murder, and the case is now headed to trial.

Jeremy D. Lyght appeared before 1st District Court Judge John Luster, who did not schedule a trial date. Attorneys for both sides said the trial will likely last five days or less.

Lyght's bond was reduced from $500,000 to $499,000 in order to change his security classification at the Kootenai County jail. Defense attorney Anne Taylor made the request.

Luster said the reduction might allow Taylor and a defense investigator more access to Lyght.

Lyght has been in custody since mid-April after he allegedly stabbed a fellow patron inside the Rendezvous night club, the bikini bar formerly known as the Torch Lounge, located at 216 E. Coeur d'Alene Ave.

The victim, 25-year-old Derek Ward, suffered a wound to his neck that required four to five hours of treatment at Kootenai Medical Center.

The gash was 4 inches long and dug 2 inches deep, missing his carotid artery by a millimeter. It took 25 stitches to close.

Ward told The Press after he was released from the hospital that Lyght allegedly attacked him over a woman both of the men knew.

Ward said his back was turned to Lyght when Lyght grabbed his head and plunged the knife in. He said Lyght also tried to stab him in the eye.