( CNN ) -- A 12-year-old accused with stabbing to death his 8-year-old sister at their Northern California home pleaded not guilty on Wednesday during an appearance in a Calaveras County juvenile court , his attorney told CNN . The boy -- who has not been named because of his age -- is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the killing . `` I say he is innocent , '' the boy 's attorney , Mark Reichel , said . `` We are going to come back on July 31 to set a date for a trial on that day and we are getting into the issue of whether a 12-year-old can ever be put on trial for murder . '' Leila Fowler and her brother were said to be alone on Saturday , April 27 , in their family 's Valley Springs home when she was found dead . The 12-year-old told police that he 'd seen an intruder leaving the home , then found his sister suffering from stab wounds . Sources : Suspect in sister 's death had knife at school . The 8-year-old died minutes after arriving at a hospital , authorities said . After the incident , police offered a sketchy description of the suspect as a 6-foot-tall white or Hispanic male with a muscular build . They also interviewed registered sex offenders in the area , ran down leads and searched in attics , storage sheds and more in the rural , mountainous community located about 60 miles southeast of Sacramento . Authorities also combed the Fowler 's home and neighborhood looking for evidence . Then on May 11 , authorities arrested the boy . The boy 's family , according to the attorney , is supporting him . He is `` doing OK under tough circumstances , '' Reichel said . Two adopted Utah brothers , 4 and 10 , found dead ; oldest brother arrested . CNN 's Chelsea J. Carter contributed to this report .
A 12-year-old boy is accused of stabbing to death his 8-year-old sister . The girl was found dead in her bedroom on Saturday after the alleged attack. `` I say he is innocent , '' the attorney says . Attorney says he 'll raise the issue of whether a 12-year-old can be tried for murder .