Mistrial declared in Davis stabbings trial; jury found Carlos Dominguez not guilty of first-degree murder
What comes next in the Davis serial stabbing case after mistrial
What comes next in the Davis serial stabbing case after mistrial
What comes next in the Davis serial stabbing case after mistrial
A mistrial has been declared in the trial of Carlos Dominguez, the former UC Davis student accused of going on a deadly stabbing spree.
On Friday, the Yolo County jury revealed that they unanimously found Dominguez not guilty on first-degree murder.
On second-degree murder,10 jurors found Dominguez not guilty while two voted guilty.
With the case declared a mistrial by the judge, a new trial will take place on the second-degree count. A new trial setting conference is set for July 24.
Carlos Dominguez in Yolo County Court on June 27.
Dominguez is suspected in the 2023 stabbing spree that saw two people, David Breaux and Karim Abou Najm, killed and a third, Kimberlee Guillory, wounded.
Proceedings were initially put on hold after the former UC Davis student's arrest after he was found not competent to stand trial. However, the trial resumed towards the end of 2024 when a reevaluation determined Dominguez was now competent.
Jurors were deciding on the charges of first-degree murder for the killings of Breaux and Najm, and attempted murder in Guillory's stabbing.
Closing arguments concluded on June 6, with Dominguez's defense claiming he was suffering from schizophrenia at the time of the attacks. Prosecutors focused their case on proving the actions were premeditated, regardless of Dominguez's mental state.
A number of people – including Dominguez's family, his ex-girlfriend, a former professor, along with health care professionals and law enforcement officers – were brought in to testify in the trial.
Dominguez himself took the stand in his own defense, a move legal experts said was unusual.
Prosecutors have said they would not seek the death penalty against Dominguez if he is found guilty.
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