Morgan Hill resident Anthony Hernandez, 23, was assigned a new
attorney at a hearing last week, but the start date of a possible
trial on an attempted murder charge remains uncertain.
Morgan Hill resident Anthony Hernandez, 23, was assigned a new attorney at a hearing last week, but the start date of a possible trial on an attempted murder charge remains uncertain.
Hernandez, who was at South County Courthouse for a hearing Thursday, is accused of stabbing Matt Benoit, 36 of Morgan Hill, seven times with a pocket knife. Police also said after the stabbing – the result of a verbal altercation that escalated – that Hernandez retrieved a handgun from his car and pointed it at Benoit, threatening to kill him.
The incident happened April 29, 2010, outside the Villa Teresa apartment complex on Berry Court. Benoit told police he stopped by the complex, where Hernandez lived with his girlfriend, to visit his daughter.
After a brief exchange of unfriendly words between the two, Hernandez stabbed Benoit with a pocket knife, police said. He reportedly told police that he thought the victim came to the apartment to “cause trouble.” Hernandez and other witnesses told police that he acted in self-defense.
Benoit said the stabbing was unprovoked.
Hernandez pleaded not guilty in June 2010.
If convicted, Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He remains in Santa Clara County Jail while he awaits further hearings.
His next hearing is scheduled for April 4 at South County Courthouse.
