A 32-year-old Massachusetts man accused of stabbing a man in the back eight times during a dispute at a Lebanon horse farm last year is scheduled to go on trial today in New London Superior Court.

Matthew Hanson of Bourne, Mass., is charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, carrying an illegal weapon in a vehicle, sixth-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief. He has pleaded not guilty and opted for a trial rather than accept a plea offer from the state involving a lengthy prison sentence.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin today before Judge Barbara Bailey Jongbloed. The trial is slated to begin Dec. 4, according to prosecutor David J. Smith. Hanson is represented by attorneys Michael A. Blanchard and Bryan P. Fiengo.

According to a police report of the incident, state police were called to the Carbery Fields horse farm at 859 Beaumont Highway in Lebanon at 1:22 a.m. on April 28, 2012, for a reported stabbing.

The victim, Shane Crawford, 30, was taken to Windham Hospital, then airlifted to Hartford Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Hanson had gone to the farm to retrieve items that did not belong to him from his ex-girlfriend, Annie Morris, according to the report. A dispute ensued, and Morris went to a neighbor’s home. Crawford, the neighbor’s boyfriend, went to confront Hanson, who was leaving the farm. Hanson stabbed Crawford multiple times in the back with a serrated knife as Crawford turned to enter the home, according to the report. Crawford was able to get into the house before collapsing. Hanson stayed outside, where he was taken into custody without incident.

Troopers recovered a knife with a 4-inch blade and a rope handle from Hanson, along with a cellphone. Hanson’s occupation is listed as “grad student” on a booking sheet. He has been free on a $300,000 bond while his case was pending.

— Karen Florin