The Oakland man accused of being the "Vampire Slasher'' was found guilty yesterday of second-degree murder in the slaying of a homeless woman in San Francisco and of assault charges in attacks on three homeless men last year.

The jury rejected a first-degree murder charge against Joshua Rudiger, who has a long history of mental illness, opting for the second-degree murder count in the throat slashing of Shirley Dillahunty on Oct. 29, 1998.

The jury also rejected attempted- murder charges in the three other knife attacks, convicting Rudiger of the lesser assault counts instead.