[Editor’s Note: See three earlier accounts, “Two Fighting for Their Lives After Bar-Sparked StabbingSpree,” March 20; “Million-Dollar Bail for Finizza, the St. Patrick’s Day Stabbing Suspect,” April 1; and “Stabbing Victim Tied to a Drinking Arrest Two Weeks Earlier,” April 3.]
At stabbing suspect Justin Finizza’s brief preliminary hearing this morning, the District Attorney’s office announced an intention to add a charge of attempted murder against the defendant later today.
In a once pedestrian-looking case that steadily has expanded, Mr. Finizza could face 25 years to life, if convicted.
According to police, after twice being evicted from the Scarlet Lady blue-collar bar on South Sepulveda Boulevard late on the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, he allegedly stabbed an apparently innocent passerby during his flight from the tavern.
Both the 31-year-old Mr. Finizza, whom police found under a car after he had been run over, and the victim, Andrew Wilson, 40, were hospitalized in the early morning hours of March 18.
The Climax
Their injuries were described as severe, “possibly life-threatening.”
Mr. Wilson’s sister was driving the car that ran down Mr. Finizza near the south Culver City intersection of Berryman Avenue and Segrell Way. Shortly afterward, she was booked on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, police said, but later released.
One week after the stabbing, on March 25, Mr. Finizza — described by family members as an award-winning chef who was exploring a career change — was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Both the defendant and the victim recovered and left the hospital around the same time.
High-Rent Bail
What originally made the case eye-catching was that the smallish, bearded Mr. Finizza was, and is, being detained in County Jail on the unusually high figure of $1 million bail.
Nan Whitfield, the public defender representing Mr. Finizza, told the newspaper that was because the D.A.’s office “mistakenly” considered it a third-strike case.
“This is the second strike,” she said.
Because “voluminous” new discovery material emerged in court this morning , Judge Richard G. Berry granted a defense request to continue the hearing until Wednesday, April 30.
Taking a Closer Look
Family sources who did not want to be identified told the newspaper said that at the time of the St. Patrick’s Day attack, Mr. Finizza was mourning the death and burial of his mother three days earlier, on Friday March 14.
“Justin really was distraught,” one of them said.
Theirs was no ordinary son and mother relationship, said the persons, speaking evenly.
“His mother had fourth degree lung cancer for the last two years, and Justin cared, I mean really cared, for her every day,” said one. “Not only did he take her to every appointment, everywhere she needed to go, doing whatever she needed to be done, he also would carry her up and down the stairs regularly.
“His mother was totally dependent on Justin and her husband.”
A Star in the Kitchen
Professionally, the sources said, Mr. Finizza was accomplished as a certified chef.
Formerly employed by the smart Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey, he later owned his own restaurant in the San Fernando Valley. Along the way, he was recognized by the legendary restaurant critic Elmer Dills, they said.
“Justin is very, very intelligent,” said one person who has known him many years. “He is gifted. Super smart. Probably too smart for his own good.”
