Attorneys for a 14-year-old boy accused of killing his classmate last week were in court Tuesday, but did not allow their client to appear. 

Relatives of Noel Estevez also showed up for the hearing to defend the boy's actions. They say he was trying to defend himself when he stabbed and killed 14-year-old Timothy Crump outside I.S. 117. 

Defense attorneys back up the claims that Estevez was a victim of bullying for months. They say he was failed by the Department of Education and police, but they won't let legal aid fail him too. 

Estevez is charged as an adult with murder and manslaughter, and it's unclear whether he will testify in front of a grand jury. The Bronx District Attorney's Office says he already admitted to stabbing Crump several times to stop him from punching him.

Estevez's next court appearance is scheduled for June 30.