GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) _ A Kansas appeals court has ruled that a Garden City man can be tried for first-degree murder in a 2011 stabbing death.

The suspect, 32-year-old Fred Schmidt Jr., is a suspect in the March 2011 death of 25-year-old Jeffrey Nichols.

Prosecutors have said Nichols died from 45 separate stab wounds after allegedly fighting with Schmidt.

A Finney County judge previously ruled that there was not enough evidence to bind Schmidt over on a first-degree murder charge, but said he could be tried on second-degree murder.

But the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Schmidt can be tried for first-degree murder.

The Garden City Telegram reports that Schmidt has claimed he stabbed Nichols in self-defense after Nichols attacked him.