LIHU‘E — Significant details of the Anahola murder case were expected to surface Monday during a preliminary hearing at the 5th District Court. But the Honolulu-based attorney for one of the key witnesses did not show up, prompting the judge
LIHU‘E — Significant details of the Anahola murder case were expected to surface Monday during a preliminary hearing at the 5th District Court. But the Honolulu-based attorney for one of the key witnesses did not show up, prompting the judge to re-schedule the hearing.
Attorney Guy Matsunaga, representing David Kawaihalau-Manaku, could not be present in court because he was ill and unable to travel to Kaua‘i, Judge Trudy Senda said.
On Dec. 17 Aureo Moore, 34, of Kapa‘a, was shot to death a couple hundred yards from Anahola Beach Park. Within hours the police arrested Kawaihalau-Manaku, 25, and Vicente Hilario, 24. Both were charged with second-degree murder.
Kawaihalau-Manaku was later released pending investigation. He is now a witness in the case against Hilario, who had a first-degree murder charge added to the original charge.
It’s not the first time Senda postponed testimony from Kawaihalau-Manaku. On Dec. 22 he was supposed to testify, but Senda sent him home because of a tight schedule.
Kawaihalau-Manaku went back to court on Jan. 4, but did not testify. Senda appointed Matsunaga to defend Kawaihalau-Manaku and ordered them to return to court on Jan. 10, giving Matsunaga time to get acquainted with the case.
Kawaihalau-Manaku was given a private attorney to represent him in the case. The Public Defender Office had represented Moore, and it would have created a conflict of interest, Senda said. For the same reason, Senda gave Hilario a private attorney, Honolulu-based Keith Shigetomi.
Det. James Miller was also scheduled to testify on Monday, but went home without taking the stand.
Miller and Kawaihalau-Manaku were re-scheduled to testify at 8 a.m., Jan. 20.
Senda asked the parties involved to schedule a telephone conference prior to the hearing, so the court can start taking testimony as early as possible.
On Jan. 21, at 2 p.m., other key witnesses are scheduled to appear in court.
Angie Nora Crawford, also known as Pua Crawford, is supposed to take the stand. Because of a conflict of interest, she was similarly given a private attorney, Nelson Goo.
State forensic pathologist Alvin Omori is also supposed to take the stand on Jan. 21.
