Stabbing defense angers family

Rafael Antonio Cuevas, 22, of San Francisco, is accused of stabbing Griffith, 21, of Redwood City, twice in the heart after brushing up against Cuevas' car as he walked with friends along Terry A. Francois Boulevard in San Francisco Sept. 17 after attending a Giants game.

Cuevas' attorney, Jim Collins, said he'd been working with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office for a week to negotiate a surrender Sunday. He doesn't believe Cuevas meant to stab Griffith to death and hinted maybe the altercation between the two men and their friends was more heated than initial reports describe.

"I haven't reviewed the evidence. He's just a great kid who went to Riordan High School and City College. There appears to be no violence in his background," Collins said.

A larger fight between them "seems to be the only answer," Collins said, who made it clear his client did not enter a self-defense plea.

Collins explanation doesn't make sense to Redman and clearly upsets her.

"The only thing I have to say about that is that Timothy was stabbed six times. Certainly if someone has other information they need to make it known," Redman said.

Redman was surprised the man accused of killing her son was caught so quickly. Just one week after an arrest warrant was issued for Cuevas, he was caught re-entering the United States from Mexico through an Arizona checkpoint with his aunt, uncle and mother.

Redman attended yesterday's arraignment with about 20 friends and family who dressed in black and wore "Stop the Violence" shirts. Members of Cuevas family also attended dressed all in black.

"It was horrible, they are a grieving family too for very different reasons," Redman said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com