Article Options

Accused stabber ruled unfit for trial

by andrea hahn, The southern

Thursday, January 4, 2007 6:58 AM CST

MURPHYSBORO - The man charged with repeatedly stabbing his girlfriend behind the Secretary of State's office in Carbondale has been ruled unfit to stand trial.

Jonathan Schoffner, 22, at a hearing Wednesday was ordered committed to a mental institution in order to be made fit for trial.

Dr. Michael Althoff, an expert witness from the Alton Mental Health Center, testified that Schoffner exhibited symptoms of bipolar disorder or possibly even schizoid-affective disorder. He said he believes that with proper medication and training therapy at a mental institution, Schoffner could be made fit for trial within a few months.

Legal fitness, according to testimony given in court, indicates a person understands the basic roles of the judge, jury, prosecution and defense counsel and is able to assist in his or her own defense.

Schoffner is accused of attacking his female companion Aug. 21 at about 12:30 p.m. behind the driver's license facility at 2516 W. Murphysboro Road. He stabbed the woman so badly she required emergency treatment and time in the intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

From the stabbing scene, Schoffner fled on foot to the nearby Kroger West parking lot at 2421 W. Main St., where he attempting hijacking at least one vehicle unsuccessfully before forcibly hijacking a car. He fled into construction zone traffic, where he was apprehended.

The stabbing victim was in court for Schoffner's fitness hearing. She expressed relief the incident was behind her. However, she said she could hardly stand to hear testimony from Althoff that, during fitness interviews, Schoffner said he wanted to "get this over with" so he could be released from jail and return to her as his "girlfriend."

"I'm not his girlfriend," she said after the hearing.

"(Schoffner) doesn't see the seriousness of the charges against him," Althoff said on the stand. "He sees one of the possible outcomes as being able to go home and be with his girlfriend."

Schoffner is facing four felony counts for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking, attempted hijacking and aggravated domestic battery.

 

andrea.hahn@thesouthern.com

(618) 529-5454 ext. 5076