A man suspected of beating and trying to kidnap a Chula Vista cardiologist was given a Sept. 15 trial date Wednesday.
Robert “Trey” Whitaker, 57, appeared on a video screen from a room in jail before San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeff Fraser. He has pleaded not guilty.
Whitaker is accused of torture, kidnapping, and assault of Dr. Hassan Kafri, 48, who was attacked in his own garage in La Jolla. Whitaker was his neighbor at the time.
The courts are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but limited court hearings have occurred on a semi-emergency basis.
There are no jury trials until June under orders from the California Chief Justice and declarations of a state of emergency. Gov. Gavin Newsom has not yet lifted a stay at home order.
Deputy District Attorney Kristie Nikoletich and Whitaker’s lawyer appeared on video before Fraser.
Whitaker had been set for trial on April 13, but the courts were closed. The time period from March 17 to April 30 is considered a legal court holiday.
Kafri, 48, testified over two hours in the preliminary hearing on Aug. 23, 2019, about the bizarre incident that left Kafri hospitalized for 3 1/2 days. He needed 18 stitches to his head and face to close wounds.
The kidnapping charges allege that Whitaker tried to kidnap Kafri for robbery and for purposes of extortion. He is also charged with burglary, and attempted to dissuade a witness by stealing two phones from Kafri.
The incident took place June 12, 2019 in Kafri’s garage around 9:14 a.m. when Whitaker lived next door to him in La Jolla. Whitaker, a construction contractor, remains in jail without bail.
Kafri has offices in Chula Vista and San Diego, and worked at three hospitals before the incident. He suffered a broken wrist, a broken nose, dental injuries and other fractures in the incident.
The cardiologist testified Whitaker struck him 30 times in the face with a wooden tool.
