A man who stabbed two hikers at the top of the Koko Crater Trail but was acquitted of attempted murder by reason of insanity continues to attend classes at Windward Community College.
And despite a court order allowing Benjamin Davis to leave the nearby Hawaii State Hospital grounds to go to school unescorted, he has not been attending classes on his own, said Dr. Joan Fukumoto, State Hospital staff psychiatrist.
"His behavior has been stable. He’s been attending college with staff escort," Fukumoto told state Circuit Judge Richard Perkins on Tuesday.
Davis told Perkins, "I’m just trying to make the most of the opportunity."
Tuesday was the date Perkins set for a 30-day review of his order allowing Davis to attend college classes unescorted. Davis had previously attended classes at the school with a hospital escort.
Nicholas Iwamoto, one of the stabbing victims, said he was informed Tuesday that because of Davis’ good behavior, the hospital could allow him to go to classes without a hospital escort, if it chose to do so.
Hawaii State Hospital Administrator Mark Fridovich said he cannot comment on specific cases.
WCC Chancellor Doug Dykstra says the hospital has an agreement with the college to provide an escort for Davis when he attends classes. But Dykstra said the agreement is not in writing and because of Perkins’ order, the hospital can allow Davis to attend classes unescorted at any time. That’s why WCC has chosen to provide Davis its own escort, Dykstra said.
The school also provides additional security for the safety of Davis and others.
Davis stabbed Iwamoto and California resident Guy Tanaka Feb. 1, 2009. A state judge acquitted Davis of attempted murder by reason of insanity in February 2010 and committed him to the Hawaii State Hospital.
