May 7, 2008

Man accused of hitting dad pleads not guilty

Caitlin Cassady / Bay City News

A 57-year-old Foster City man accused of hitting his 81-year-old father in the head with a hammer pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Jayantibhai Patel is facing charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse in the case, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Foster City police were called to a home on Port Royal Avenue on Oct. 6 after receiving reports that someone had fallen. They found Patel's father with an injury to his head.

Patel was reportedly a caretaker for his paralytic father and wanted his father to return to India with him. When his father refused, Patel decided to put him in a nursing home, the district attorney's office reported.

Patel later admitted to authorities that he had struck his father with the hammer, but allegedly said he did not want to kill him, but only to injure him because he believed hospitalization was the only way his father could be admitted to the rest home.

His father's wounds required about six staples to close, according to the district attorney's office.

Patel is out of custody on a $500,000 bail bond. He is scheduled to return to court for a jury trial on Sept. 29.