The 12-year-old denies charge in court after being accused of slaying of his 8-year-old sister despite, as his lawyers contend, being a "normal little boy." 

The hearing on Wednesday comes after the 12-year-old, identified only as Isaiah F. in court documents because he's a minor, was charged with second degree murder in the death of his 8-year-old sister, reports Reuters. 

The sister, Leila Fowler, was killed on April 27, with the brother claiming to police an intruder had killed her. 

Police searched for the "long-haired" intruder for two weeks before arresting the boy and charging him with second degree murder on May 15.

After Wednesday's hearings, prosecutors declined an immediate comment, but one of the 12-year-old boy's lawyers, Mark Reichel, made himself available yesterday. 

Outside the courtroom after the hearing, Reichel said, "Our view of the case hasn't changed. We got in believing our client was innocent, and as we stand here, that's what we believe." 

The 12-year-old boy was wearing shackles at the Calaveras court house yesterday and turned back to his mom, dad, and dad's fiancé as they sat witnessing the proceedings. 

Judge John E. Martin set a July 31 hearing date to schedule a juvenile bench trial, for the dark-haired 12-year-old defendent who denies the charge of murder. 

If the 12-year-old is convicted of the second degree murder charge, he'll most likely be released after his 23rd birthday. 

Reuters spoke with a neighbor of the family, Dana Wydner, who said of the slain Leila Fowler "She was just a beautiful little girl, always out there playing. They were good kids. They were just a normal family." 

Reichel also said of the 12-year-old charged, "We're concerned about whether or not a 12-year-old can actively participate in his own defense."

Before the court hearing, Reichel had said the 12-year-old Isaiah F. had been suspended from school in January of this year for bringing a "tiny little Swiss Army knife" to school. But otherwise, the 12-year-old who denied the charge of murder was, "a very normal boy in a very normal setting with normal siblings."