Lynn man arraigned for New Year’s stabbing

SALEM – A Lynn man charged with twice stabbing an 18 year old during an incident at a Parkland Avenue home on New Year’s Day remains held at the Middleton Jail on $20,000 bail after claiming he is innocent.In Salem Superior Court Monday morning, Giovanni Marquis Jenkins, 19, of 37 Jackson St., appeared for his arraignment, pleading innocent to armed assault with intent to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.Judge Howard J. Whitehead agreed to set the same bail amount jointly proposed by Assistant District Attorney Michael Patten and public defender Mark Schmidt. The judge also agreed to leave the option open for the defense to argue bail at another court hearing.The charges arise out of an incident in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, when Jenkins allegedly stabbed 18-year-old Damon Emmons twice in his upper right chest during an incident at Emmons’ home at 272 Parkland Ave.No known motive has been released at this time.Jenkins was examined at Bridgewater State Hospital following his arraignment earlier in Lynn District Court, where medical experts said they felt he was competent to stand trial.But Schmidt told Whitehead he had reservations and disagreed with their finding. He pointed out certain information in the report, which is not public, in which another person’s name, not Jenkins, was written in the report by the medical expert, indicating there may be an error and mix-up on the report.Whitehead said he would order an explanation concerning the issue from Bridgewater State Hospital medical officials and continued the case to June 15.