A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing three people in Hilo in a midnight rampage more than 17 months ago pleaded not guilty Monday to numerous charges. ADVERTISING A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing three people in Hilo in a midnight
A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing three people in Hilo in a midnight rampage more than 17 months ago pleaded not guilty Monday to numerous charges.
Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara ordered Varaha Mims to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 29.
Mims is charged with attempted first-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, burglary, property damage and marijuana possession.
He is accused of a midnight crime spree on May 23, 2014, and is alleged to have stabbed Skylar Nelson, then 28, and Sarah Steinbrecher, then 27, outside Hilo Town Tavern. He then allegedly fled on foot to Wainaku and stabbed his former landlord, Raghunatha John Giuffre, then 49.
Nelson and Giuffre were hospitalized with critical injuries but have since recovered. Steinbrecher was treated for her wounds and released.
Mims, who had been found unfit in April to stand trial, was found fit by Hara on Oct. 23 after all three mental examiners said Mims was fit to proceed.
If found guilty of attempted first-degree murder, which was charged because of multiple victims, Mims would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
