Koffee? Stabber again found unfit to stand trial

By William S. Mauldin

LIZ OLINER/YH The stabbings occured at Koffee? on Audobon Street in August of 1994.

On Mon., Mar. 9, a court once again had the task of determining whether Silva is competent to stand trial. Again, the court found him psychologically incompetent. He has now been turned over to the state Commission of Mental Health.

Many of the victims still cannot understand why Silva attacked seven people inside the café four years ago. During psychological examinations following his arrest, Silva told doctors he thought his mother was dead, and blamed her death on the customers in Koffee? for her death. Silva's mother was in Yale-New Haven Hospital at the time, and a few days prior to the stabbings, he was unable to find her since she had been moved to another room. Believing his mother to be dead, Silva went on a rampage, entered the café, and attacked seven customers, at least two of whom were affiliated with Yale. During the attack, Silva reportedly screamed, "You killed my mother!"

Although the victims have physically recovered from the stab wounds, none will forget the traumatic event. Many have left New Haven; one is planning to leave the country.

Candace Blasi, owner of Koffee?, witnessed the stabbings and questioned the latest incompentency ruling. "It just happened really, really fast," she said, adding that she believes Silva should serve time in prison for his crimes. "With the number of victims that we've had, it's amazing that we haven't had a conviction. It's a flaw in our system."

One victim of the stabbings is Martin Bresnick, a professor of composition at Yale's School of Music. He told the New Haven Register earlier this month about his experience in the café. Bresnick discussed the need to leave behind the frightening events of August 1994. "Every one of us was shattered by it, in one way or another. My goal is not to have that be the main feature of my identity," Bresnick told the Register. When reached this week by phone he said, "I have nothing to add."

Now that Silva has been found incompetent to stand trial once again, he can never be tried for the seven counts of first-degree assault. The arson remains on his record, though; if he is ever declared competent, he can be tried for
that offense.

Back to News...