Man charged in stabbings of 2 Asian women a no-show in court

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The arraignment of a man who allegedly stabbed two older women without warning at a San Francisco bus stop was postponed Friday after he refused to leave his jail cell and appear in court.

Patrick Thompson’s arraignment on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse was postponed until Monday.

District Attorney Chesa Boudin asked that Thompson, 54, be held without bail, and Judge Brian Ferrall agreed.

Thompson, who has a history of mental illness, could face a potential life sentence if convicted.

San Francisco public defender Eric Fleischaker is representing Thompson and said the attack was not racially motivated and that his client has suffered mental health issues his entire adult life.

“We do know that Mr. Thompson was suffering from a mental health crisis and was psychiatrically hospitalized immediately after this incident,” Fleischaker said

Thompson thrived for nearly two years while on a rigorous, court-mandated mental health diversion program.

“Sadly, many life- saving social services have not been available during the COVID crisis, and the lack of consistent care led to this situation, which is tragic for all involved,” Fleischaker said.

Boudin, whose approach of stressing restorative justice over mass incarceration has come under fire, said he will prosecute the case himself, a move that the San Francisco Police Officers Association called a “political stunt.”

“The victims in this case and their families deserve the most experienced violent crime prosecutor in court today and not a criminal defense attorney with zero experience prosecuting any crime,” said Tony Montoya, president of the association, which opposed Boudin’s candidacy for district attorney,

A witness told KGO-TV that Thompson was carrying a large knife with knuckles on the handle and without warning attacked the women Tuesday as they waited for a bus on Market Street.

“The knife punctured one victim’s lungs, requiring extensive surgery,” the district attorney’s office said. “A knife had to be removed from another victim at the hospital.”

Authorities initially said the women were 65 and 84 years old and didn’t immediately identify them. But a family member said the elder victim was 85-yearold Chui Fong Eng.

Victoria Eng said her grandmother was stabbed in the right arm, and the blade entered her chest. She underwent successful surgery.

“We were able to visit grandma today! It was so emotional walking in and seeing her,” Eng posted Thursday on a GoFundMe page that had raised more than $ 98,000 to cover medical expenses.

Some of the fundraiser money raised was offered to the family of the other victim, “but they politely declined,” the post said.

Both women were expected to survive, authorities said.

Authorities haven’t said whether the women were targeted because of their ethnicity. But the District Attorney’s office said prosecutors were working with police to determine whether there was evidence to support hate crime allegations.

Police Chief William Scott initially said the attack appeared to be “totally random.”