Evidence will be heard Thursday in the case of a man accused of grabbing a woman off her bike, attempting to rape her and then stabbing her.

During a court appearance Tuesday morning for William Nichols, 30, Lawrence, Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson asked the judge to set a preliminary hearing in the case as soon as possible because the victim is a foreign student who is scheduled to leave Lawrence next week.

Judge Peggy Kittel scheduled the preliminary hearing on Thursday for Nichols, who is charged with aggravated kidnapping, attempted rape and aggravated battery. He’s accused of grabbing the 23-year-old victim off her bike on the South Lawrence Trafficway bike path about 3:15 p.m. last Wednesday, dragging her into tall grass and brutally attacking her.

Nichols appeared in court Tuesday wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit and with his court appointed attorney, Michael Clarke. Nichols’ bond is set at $500,000, and he remains in custody at the Douglas County Jail.