Hilario murder trial set

LIHU‘E — With transcripts and evidence testing expected to be completed within two months, the first-degree murder case of Vicente Kotekapika Hilario is back on the court calendar for May 14.

The day after what would have been the original trial date, Chief Judge Randal Valenciano of the 5th Circuit Court listened to attorney updates at a status hearing on Tuesday.

Hilario’s attorney, Keith Shigetomi, told the court that transcriptions of witness interviews are nearly complete. He provided copies of completed work to prosecutors and said the transcriptionist would have approximately six remaining interviews completed in one month.

First Deputy County Prosecuting Attorney Jake Delaplane said that would be enough time to check the transcripts with the original audio-video recording for accuracy to use as evidence at the trial.

Shigetomi said an independent forensics investigation would be completed in about three-weeks after receipt of the evidence. The testing is to investigate the process of recovery and the procedures of analysis regarding carbon residue analysis of the weapon in the case.

Valenciano agreed to the testing in January after Shigetomi produced reports showing that a lab with an electron microscope and special training is required to examine the evidence and the process by which it was collected.

The discovery process in this case was to be completed by Jan. 9, but technical and logistical issues with the transcripts and pending lab testing caused the delay.

Hilario, 25, of Anahola is accused of fatally shooting Aureo Moore, 34, of Kapa‘a near Anahola Beach Park on Dec. 17, 2010. He is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, retaliating against a witness, intimidating a witness and bribery of a witness.

• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.