Hayden Ashley Ryan Todkill, 26, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to charges of attempted murder and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Special magistrate Margaret Hunter committed him to the ACT Supreme Court for trial and continued his bail, which was granted in late April after defence lawyer Jacob Robertson raised an argument of self-defence.

Todkill had been behind bars since March 9, when he was arrested four days after the Kingston incident that gave rise to the charges.

Court documents show that, on the day in question, Todkill was among 33 revellers who cruised Lake Burley Griffin on a party boat to celebrate the birthdays of two people.

During the voyage, a woman who had driven Todkill to the boat slapped a man in the face and accused him of spilling a drink on her.

Later, once the cruise had been cut short by "disorderly" behaviour, the boat's passengers disembarked and went to The Dock in Kingston.

Todkill and the alleged drink spiller exchanged words at that venue, according to police, who say the pair went outside and began fighting.

Police claim the alleged stabbing victim, who was one of the birthday celebrants, broke up this altercation and several cruise passengers began walking towards Eastlake Parade.

As they went, Todkill is said to have pulled a knife from his clothing and stabbed the birthday boy, who later had to be placed in a coma, several times.

During the successful bail application, however, Mr Robertson argued CCTV and mobile phone footage painted a very different picture of the events.

He said these videos showed Todkill being "surrounded by three males", including the man who was ultimately stabbed, and "punched and kicked whilst he was on the ground".

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Mr Robertson said Todkill had carried out the stabbing in self-defence, with a jury to decide whether the use of a knife had been "proportional to the threat he perceived".

Magistrate James Lawton, who granted bail, agreed the videos seemed to show Todkill being "quickly overwhelmed by several assailants", including the alleged victim.

He also described the issue of potential self-defence as "obvious".

"The aggression of the [alleged victim] can be seen when he repeatedly approaches and attacks [Todkill], even after [Todkill] repeatedly retreats," Mr Lawton said in April.

Todkill, whose bail conditions were varied on Tuesday, is due to appear in the Supreme Court for an administrative hearing on June 30.

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