DAVIS, Calif — Last summer, Carlos Dominguez, the Davis stabbings suspect, was deemed unfit for trial, but in January, his competency was reinstated by a judge after a state hospital report indicated Dominguez was competent to stand trial. He was back in court Monday for a preliminary hearing, and the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said they will not seek the death penalty.
Through testimony from several Davis police officers and detectives, new information about the moments that led up to the three stabbings was revealed. Two of those stabbings proved deadly in Davis in late April of last year.
The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is probable cause to believe that suspect Carlos Dominguez committed the stabbings and if the case will go to trial.
Dominguez appeared largely emotionless in court for the first day of the preliminary hearing, mostly looking down or straight ahead as several officers and detectives were called to the stand.
Dominguez faces murder charges related to the deaths of 50-year-old David Breaux near Central Park and 20-year-old UC Davis student Karim Abou Najm near Sycamore Park.
Corporal Pheng Ly, with Davis Police Department, testified he responded to Sycamore Park after the incident and said a doctor who lived nearby heard calls for help.
The doctor tried to perform CPR when he found Abou Najm lying on the ground unresponsive, thinking it was a bike accident.
Ly said the doctor had a brief interaction with the suspect at the scene and tried to go after him before he got away on a bike.
"Prior to fleeing on bicycle, the suspect told Dr. Massey something to the effect of: 'What's going on, why are you bothering me, leave me alone and then he took off on the bike,” said Ly.
Officers who responded to the scene of the third stabbing near 2nd and L streets also spoke in court. A woman named Kimberlee Guillory was stabbed there.
A detective who spoke with her in the hospital said she lost a lot of blood after she was stabbed inside her tent.
Ahead of the preliminary hearing, ABC10 spoke with the sister of David Breaux, the first stabbing victim, also known as "Compassion Guy."
"David wouldn't want us to despair today. He would want us to have sugary treats, be with our loved ones," said Breaux.
His sister said Monday would have been his 51st birthday.
Community members gathered together at "Compassion Corner" across from Central Park to have a treat from Breaux's childhood, Boston cream pie, in his memory.
Dominguez faces charges including murder and attempted murder. He is expected to appear in court again Tuesday afternoon when the preliminary hearing is set to resume.
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