A Ripon man accused of trying to kill his girlfriend with a hatchet has had his trial date set.
34-year-old Hayden Daffinson will begin his five-day jury on April 7th of next year as he faces eight felony charges, including Attempted First-Degree Intentional Homicide, First-Degree Sexual Assault with the Use of a Dangerous Weapon, and Aggravated Battery Intending Great Bodily Harm for a violent assault that took place in Fond du Lac in June.
Originally, Daffinson sought an insanity plea in this case; however, after receiving his examination report from a psychologist, the court decided to move forward with a trial and dismissed his not guilty by mental disease or defect plea.
On the night of the incident, Fond du Lac Police received a call from a woman, the 34-year-old’s girlfriend, stating she was attacked with an axe, identifying Daffinson as the assailant.
Upon arrival at the scene, EMS found the 38-year-old woman actively bleeding with severe lacerations to her head, limbs, and back.
The victim was transported to a local hospital before being flown to Neenah for extensive surgery and was later listed in stable condition.
Before police arrived on the scene, Daffinson fled but was later tracked down to Germantown, where he was apprehended following a brief pursuit.
Ahead of his jury trial, Daffinson will return to court on January 27th for a status conference.
