The defense attorney for a homeless man who allegedly stabbed a Peninsula Hospital employee nine times in the emergency room has declared doubt to his client’s mental competency, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Criminal proceedings have been suspended and the court will appoint a doctor to assess 53-year-old Joseph Alvillar’s mental competency on March 25.
Alvillar was allegedly sitting in the Burlingame emergency room on Feb. 7, talking to himself and saying he was looking for a man dressed in white, according to the DA’s Office. The victim — wearing a white hospital surgical gown — approached him, at which point Alvillar allegedly attacked him, stabbing him six times in the back, twice in the chest and once under the chin with a pocketknife.
The victim survived and is in stable condition, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Alvillar, who has a history of mental illness, was originally charged with three felonies, including attempted murder, and will face up to 13 years in prison if convicted.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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