A Salem man accused of killing a man his girlfriend was dating faces new charges of second-degree murder, upgraded from first-degree assault and negligent homicide.

Scott Hanks, 49, of 87 Lake Shore Road, allegedly stabbed William Solberg Jr., 46, of Pelham, in the stomach with a 15- inch samurai sword on April 6. Solberg was rushed to Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, where he died from his injuries.

The alleged stabbing took place in the driveway of Hanks’ home. Michael Naffah, a neighbor who attempted to intervene in the altercation, said the two men knew each other.

Their relationship allegedly took a turn when Solberg discovered Hanks had been dating his girlfriend, Patricia Walsh, Naffah said.

On April 7, police found the sword in Canobie Lake. Hanks was also arraigned that day on the assault, negligent homicide and falsifying evidence charges for his alleged disposal of the weapon in the lake.

At a probable cause hearing on Tuesday, April 15, Salem police Sgt. Steve Malisos told district court Judge John Korbey that Solberg showed up at Hanks’ home at around 5 p.m. on April 6.

Hanks allegedly walked out of his home brandishing the sword and popped one of Solberg’s tires with it, sparking a struggle in which Solberg threw the first punches but ended up lying on the driveway in a pool of blood.

Less than an hour later, Solberg was pronounced dead at Holy Family. The medical examiner determined that the stab wound was the cause of death, Malisos testified. The men had allegedly been in an altercation outside a local pizza shop several days before the incident, and also on April 5, the day right before the stabbing.

On April 5, Malisos said on the stand, Solberg allegedly showed up at Hanks’ home because his girlfriend, Walsh, was there. When Walsh would not leave with Solberg, he sped off. Hanks is currently being held at the Rockingham County Jail. Korbey set his bail at $100,000 cash.

Public defender James Reese has been designated Hanks’ counsel. An arraignment on the murder charge was scheduled for Wednesday, July 23, at 9 a.m. in Rockingham Superior Court.