LIHU‘E — Four suspects charged in the robbery of a Koloa gas station the early morning of Jan. 4, were in 5th District Court Wednesday for a custody arraignment where the robbery victim testified. District Judge Trudy K. Senda consolidated
LIHU‘E — Four suspects charged in the robbery of a Koloa gas station the early morning of Jan. 4, were in 5th District Court Wednesday for a custody arraignment where the robbery victim testified.
District Judge Trudy K. Senda consolidated the four individual cases for the purpose of judicial economy. She said the purpose is to show probable cause, and that motions regarding suppression of evidence could take place if the case moves to circuit court.
Trenda noted objections to consolidation from attorneys Caren Dennemeyer, representing Clarence Kane, 21, and Gregory Meyers, representing Kalai Vicente, 18.
Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato is representing Josia Kaluna, 18, of Koloa. The remaining co-defendant Mason Saio, 20, is represented by June Ikemoto.
Three defendants are represented by court appointed attorneys, with the exception of Sato, to avoid a conflict of interest with the state public defenders office when handling multiple defendants in the same case.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes is prosecuting the case on behalf of the state. She called Koloa Chevron employee Michael Bajit as the first witness to testify. He is the man who was injured during the robbery.
Bajit testified having confronted one of the suspects earlier in the evening to order him off the premises for a previous theft. Around 2:20 a.m., Bajit was confronted by a suspect who blocked the door and soon joined by the other three men, he said.
The men had their faces painted black and were wearing shirts on their heads. At first, Bajit testified he thought it was a joke. He said he recognized the still visible faces of the men, and that three were regular customers.
The man identified as Vicente held up a hunting knife with a blade more than a foot long, Bajit testified. He said Vicente then shoved him behind the counter area, punched him in the eye and told him to shut up and open the register.
It was not clear how much was taken, but testimony had the amount ranging from $200 to $800. A payroll check belonging to another employee was also taken from under the counter.
Bajit said Kaluna punched him in the back of the head at one point.Bajit said a man he identified as Saio went behind the counter for several packs of cigarettes, amounting to a carton. Bajitsaid Saio kicked him in the midsection with his heel.
Bajit testified that two suspects grabbed about a dozen or so bottles of wine off the racks. They broke nearly as many by dropping them on the floor, he said.
As the barefoot men prepared to leave, Bajit said he told them about the video surveillance and to be careful not to step on the broken glass. Bajit then went outside and waited for the police to arrive.
Bajit said he thought the incident had lasted just less than 10 minutes. It was only after viewing the security video Wednesday that he learned only three minutes had elapsed.
Motions for reduced bail and bail studies were denied by Senda. The four defendants remain at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center with bail set at $100,000 for each.
The defendants are due back in district court on Jan. 17 for another hearing. A second store employee and the police officer who was called to the scene are scheduled to testify.
• Tom LaVenture can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or tlaventure@ thegardenisland.com.
