Jun 28, 2008

Murder defendant's competency weighed

Doctors to rule whether man accused of stabbing co-worker can stand trial

By Caitlin Cassady / Bay City News

Two doctors were appointed Friday to evaluate a man accused of stabbing a co-worker to death as the two trained at a San Carlos vocational center in 2004 to determine whether he is competent to stand trial in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Vitin Ajani Cruz, 31, allegedly stabbed Alfonso Ruiz, 44, of Laguna Hills, shortly after 2 p.m. on Oct. 27 at San Mateo County's WorkCenter, a transitional work program run by the San Mateo County Human Services Agency. He was found incompetent to stand trial in 2005 and sent to Napa State Hospital.

On March 14 the hospital found him competent to stand trial and sent him back to San Mateo County jail, Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. The two doctors appointed today will confirm or disagree with the hospital's evaluation, at which point Cruz will either stand trial for the stabbing or be sent back to the hospital.

The two men were doing packaging work at the WorkCenter's warehouse at 550 Quarry Road when Cruz allegedly stabbed Ruiz multiple times before attempting to flee, according to police reports. After undergoing surgery for the stab wounds, Ruiz died at Stanford Hospital on Oct. 28.

Cruz faces a potential life sentence, but he cannot legally be tried or punished for the crime while mentally incompetent. The doctor's report will be presented to Judge Clifford Cretan on July 29 and he will decide whether Cruz will continue his court case or return to the hospital.