Man’s arraignment suspended in alleged Hilo stabbing spree

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Arraignment is suspended in the case of a 28-year-old man facing attempted murder charges for an alleged stabbing spree that left three people injured last month in Hilo.

Arraignment is suspended in the case of a 28-year-old man facing attempted murder charges for an alleged stabbing spree that left three people injured last month in Hilo.

Third Circuit Judge Glenn Hara on Tuesday ordered a mental examination for Varaha Mims to determine fitness for trial and penal responsibility. The consideration of responsibility, which takes into account Mims’ state of mind at the time of the alleged offenses, was ordered by the judge over the objection of Mims’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa, who had requested an examination to determine fitness only.

A hearing to consider the results of those reports is scheduled for 8 a.m. July 31. Mims is accused of stabbing and critically injuring Skylar Nelson of Pahoa and Mims’ former landlord, Raghunatha John Giuffre of Wainaku on May 23. Also injured was Nelson’s girlfriend, Sarah Steinbrecher of Hilo.