Laulusa case
taken to Palolo
Witnesses and family members
By Criag Gima
question Carlisle on his move to
reject charges against police
Star-BulletinHonolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle went to Palolo Valley Homes to explain his decision not to prosecute police for murder or manslaughter in the death of Rodney Laulusa.
He put up a large map showing the location of police at the time of the shooting, and a chart with front and side views of a human body showing where bullets entered and left Laulusa's body.
But next to Carlisle's charts, someone else put up a large cardboard tombstone painted black with the words, "Justice for Rodney Laulusa."
The displays reflected the contrasting views of the shooting as Carlisle for about two hours last night met with residents and others who gathered in a community center at the public housing project. The center is just up the street from where Laulusa, while holding two knives, was shot to death Jan. 22.
Carlisle answered questions from the audience, which included Laulusa's relatives, but did not change many minds. Many of the people in the housing project believe there has been no justice for Laulusa's family.
After listening to Carlisle's 45-minute explanation of his investigation into the shooting, Laulusa's uncle Paipai Falemalu called the investigation "bogus" and demanded to know why Carlisle will not take the case to trial.
"Why can't you let the jury decide?" he asked. "Why you have to make the decision?"
Laulusa, who grew up in Palolo Valley Homes, was living with Falemalu when he was killed. Laulusa was visiting friends on the night of the shooting.
Other people questioned Carlisle about how a man holding a knife could be a threat to police with guns, and about other charges that could be filed against the officers.
Julie Matsui-Estrella, one of the closest witnesses to the shooting, questioned why her account was not given more weight than accounts by other witnesses who, she said, were intoxicated.
"Most of us don't believe this report, since we saw what happened," she said after the meeting.
Dahlia Asuega, president of the Palolo Tenants Association, said she thinks the meeting is a first step toward healing and understanding. But she said there still is a long way to go.
Asuega said police want to work with residents to set up community policing.
"I don't see that happening without justice for the family of Rodney Laulusa," she said. "It's hard to say that we'll accept police coming in and accept community policing when there are still some questions about the case."
Asuega and others would like to see an independent investigation of the shooting.
Carlisle said he came because the residents invited him to speak.
"I think people have a right to know what I found," he said. "I doubt you're going to change minds on something like this, but you're certainly going to give more facts, and the people are entitled to know what facts I discovered."
