Michael Harju, age 37, last known address 98 Snow St., Fitchburg, Massachusetts

NASHUA — Prosecutors and defense attorneys in the case of 37-year-old Michael Harju, who is facing multiple charges stemming from allegations he stabbed two people after breaking into a Crown Hill apartment allegedly trying to steal drugs, are scheduled to seat a Superior Court jury today in preparation for his upcoming trial.

Barring a scheduling issue or a last-minute change in the court docket, the sides will choose 12 jurors, along with two alternates, to preside over Harju’s trial, the testimony phase of which is currently set to begin with opening statements on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

The trial, over which Hillsborough County Superior Court South Judge Charles Temple will preside, is currently expected to last three days, Feb. 15-17.

Harju, who has been jailed since his arrest on Oct. 13, 2020, has been charged with, and indicted on, 10 charges, all of which are Class A felonies.

They include three counts of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon; three counts of burglary — weapon involved; and four counts of robbery — weapon or serious bodily injury.

Harju, whose last known address is 98 Snow St., Fitchburg, Massachusetts, but who was listed as homeless at the time of the alleged incident, was gone from the Burke Street residence he allegedly broke into and stabbed the man and woman who lived there early the morning of Oct. 12.

He was accused of stabbing them while in the process of trying to steal the woman’s backpack, which Harju believed contained drugs. In documenting evidence, investigators did find drugs in the backpack, police said at the time.

The series of incidents that led to Harju’s arrest began with an early-morning “frantic” 911 call from the female resident screaming that she had been stabbed, police said.

Arriving officers found her covered in blood, and she identified Harju as the person who allegedly stabbed her. The man Harju allegedly stabbed was located on Major Drive, a housing complex off Burke Street.

Both were transported to St. Joseph Hospital for treatment of their injuries, and have since recovered.

Harju, meanwhile, turned up a short time later at an apartment on Mason Street, the residence of a female friend, according to the reports.

At some point, Harju, who was bleeding when he showed up at the apartment, came unconscious, prompting his friend to call for assistance.

Harju was ultimately transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for treatment, the reports state.

Meanwhile, detectives with the Nashua police Criminal Investigation Division had issued a warrant for Harju’s arrest. After he arrived at Mass General, Boston police took Harju into custody. Once he was discharged, Nashua police took custody of him and booked him on the charges.

Included among the numerous motions, hearings, attorney filings and court orders recorded over the course of the several-page case summary are three instances of so-called “Richards issues,” a legal matter that has to do with the potential for a witness to incriminate himself or herself while testifying under oath.

In this case, the man and woman stabbed on Burke Street, and Harju’s friend on Mason Street, risk admitting to certain crimes while delivering “truthful testimony” while testifying against Harju.

As for the Burke Street woman, her testimony may put her at risk for being charged with criminal liability for possession of controlled drugs, because it’s been established that the backpack that Harju allegedly stole did in fact contain drugs.

The man allegedly stabbed by Harju “faces potential criminal liability for first-degree assault,” according to court documents, because he allegedly told police that “I beat the s*** out of him” when asked what action he took when Harju allegedly attacked him with a knife.

And the Mason Street woman “faces potential criminal liability for the possession of a controlled drug, falsifying physical evidence, and hindering apprehension,” because she allegedly hid items — including the backpack containing drugs — in her closet at Harju’s request and put articles of Harju’s clothing in her washing machine, according to court documents.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.