Features

County Worker Surrenders In Rose Garden Slasher Case By MATTHEW ARTZ

Friday April 08, 2005

The Alameda County mental health worker who was accompanying a 16-year-old girl at the time the teen slashed the throat of a Berkeley woman last month was arraigned and charged as an accessory to the attack Thursday, Berkeley police said.  

According to the district attorney’s office, Hamaseh Kianfar, 30, gave surrendered herself to Oakland Police Wednesday and was released on $15,000 bail. Kianfar, who works in the guidance center at Alameda County Juvenile Hall, was walking with the 16-year-old outside the Rose Garden at the time of the attack. 

The victim, a 75-year-old Berkeley woman, did not suffer life-threatening injuries. 

After the slashing, police say, Kianfar and the girl left the woman bleeding on the ground and fled in a BMW M3. Kianfar did not contact police about the incident and later issued an initial statement claiming to be a passerby, Assistant District Attorney Wendell Jackson has confirmed. 

Kianfar was placed on paid administrative leave two weeks ago after county officials learned she was under investigation in the attack. 

The 16-year-old remains in custody at Juvenile Hall awaiting the results of a psychiatric exam.