Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, September 9, 1998

Stranger leaves python
in pillowcase at pet store

When the stranger dropped a bulging pillowcase on the pet store counter and left without a word, Shane Yamamoto figured he had an illegal pet on his hands.

The assistant manager of Enchanted Lake Pete Center was right. The tied, makeshift bag held a 5-1/2-foot Burmese python.

"I put two and two together," Yamamoto said.

"I just stuck it in the back and left it alone."

He called the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after the unexpected delivery Monday morning.

The snake now resides at the state Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine Station awaiting transport out of Hawaii.

Burmese pythons, native to areas between southern China and Indonesia, can grow to a 27-foot length, state officials said.

They feed on mammals and birds.

The surrender follows a similar incident last week in which an anonymous man turned in a 4-foot boa constrictor at the Hawaiian Humane Society on Waialae Avenue.

Both men avoided penalties by surrendering the illegal reptiles.

A person caught in possession of a prohibited animal faces a fine ranging from $1,000 to $200,000.

The penalty was increased this year for people who possess animals to propagate and sell.

The state amnesty program aims to encourage owners to turn in illegal pets instead of releasing them into the wild where they can threaten native species and the environment.

People may arrange to turn in an animal, or report sighting an illegal animal.

People may call the Pest Hotline at 586-7378.

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Defense claims 'bad judgment' in child murder

The state says Mikael Malakha "knowingly killed" a 3-1/2-year-old boy who suffered brain damage by tying strips of cloth around the child's head and stuffing a sock in his mouth in 1991.

But Malakha's attorney calls the alleged action "at most reckless conduct, in the least bad judgment" in trying to stop the child from crying.

A nonjury trial before Circuit Judge Herbert Shimabukuro started yesterday for Malakha, charged with second-degree murder in the suffocation death of the child.

Gina Lynn Riviera, the victim's mother, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 1996 for her role in the death of son Zachary. She was originally charged with second-degree murder.

In a plea agreement, Riviera was sentenced in 1997 to five years on probation with no jail time and agreed to testify against Malakha.

Deputy Prosecutor Glenn Kim said yesterday outside the courtroom that the victim was severely mentally and physically handicapped. "The case is about him," Kim said about the boy.

Kim said Malakha "knowingly killed" Zachary by sticking a sock in the child's mouth and tying strips of cloth around his head. That, Kim said, adds up to murder.

But Malakha's attorney, Myles Breiner, said the defendant has never denied his responsibility and was "trying to help the child and mother" because "the child was constantly crying."

Breiner said Malakha, also known as Michael Munford, tried to muffle the cries and teach the child not to cry. Malakha had tried the method before.

"He never intended to injure the child," Breiner said outside the courtroom. "He was trying to help the child and mother."

The incident occurred Oct. 21, 1991, in Malakha's seventh-floor Ala Moana apartment.

Zachary, who had a congenital brain disease, died about four days later in Kapiolani Hospital.

Riviera said she held the hands of her son while Malakha tied strips of cloth around the boy's head.

She didn't know that Malakha had stuffed a sock in the child's mouth until she found him lifeless about an hour later.

Riviera said Zachary was unable to use his hands to tear off the binding that held the sock in place.

The defense for Riviera said the two had met through friends. Malakha had aggressively pursued her, even stalked her, and had dominated the relationship between them.

Riviera was afraid of Malakha, who allegedly coerced her into coming to his apartment, according to her defense. He bound Zachary on about five occasions.

Second-degree murder carries a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

City tells adult fantasy store to remove sign

The city is ordering the month-old Inserection Adult Fantasy Store to remove its rainbow-colored sign.

"Recent community outcry on the sign installation demonstrates that this sign is offensive to the majority of the community," wrote Jan Sullivan, director of the Planning and Permitting Department.

Last week, landlord 7-Eleven said it was evicting Inserection, claiming that its owners had improperly described its type of business.

Jim Boersema, a 7-Eleven spokesman, said the convenience store giant is now in the process of helping Inserection find a new location.

Inserection officials could not be reached for comment.

Kamehameha group gets $50,000 donation

Na Pua a Ke Ali'i Pauahi, the direct beneficiary group for Kamehameha Schools Bishop Estate, has received a $50,000 donation from the Cole Foundation.

The private family trust, administered by David and Maggie Cole, has promised to match dollar-for-dollar all tax-deductible contributions up to $100,000 donated to Na Pua's legal fund before March 1999.

Na Pua plans a legal challenge to the trustees' contention that the sole beneficiary of Bishop Estate is the physical school and not the people educated at Kamehameha Schools.

"We plan to prove (the trustees) wrong," Na Pua attorney Beadie Kanahele Dawson said.

Na Pua is seeking to expand its membership, which is not restricted to people who attended Kamehameha.

"While voting membership is limited to students, parents and alumni of the school, anyone can join as a friend or supporter," Na Pua president Toni Lee said.

Anyone interested in the organization can attend a general membership meeting tomorrow from 6-9 p.m. at Kawaiahao Church's Likeke Hall.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Video surveillance helps catch robbery suspect

Police monitoring newly installed street surveillance video equipment arrested a suspect shortly after witnessing a robbery taking place early yesterday morning on Kalakaua Avenue.

Kristine Artusy, 19, of Nahua Street is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail on a second-degree robbery charge.

Artusy, described by police as a prostitute, was arrested at 1:50 a.m. on the 2300 block of Kalakaua Avenue while allegedly trying to flee in a taxi after taking a wallet from the back pocket of a tourist from Japan.

Another man, 35, also a visitor from Japan, was allegedly bitten on the hand by Artusy when he tried to prevent her from entering the taxi, police said.

Three boys arrested for damaging house

Police yesterday arrested three Waipahu boys, ages 8, 8 and 12, for allegedly damaging an unoccupied house on Pupukahi Street.

The boys were booked as juveniles for second-degree burglary.

They allegedly broke into the house at about 5 p.m. and poured cement into the toilets and on the floor. The boys were seen leaving the house by a witness, police said.

Inmate faces assault charge for attacking cop

Second-degree assault charges are pending against a prison inmate for allegedly attacking a police officer yesterday at the Halawa facility.

Henry Mara, 37, serving a 10-year sentence for robbery, allegedly bit the officer and damaged his uniform.

The officer was treated for injuries at Pali Momi Hospital and later released.

Two prison guards called police after Mara allegedly threatened to have them killed for denying his request to use a telephone, police said.

In other news...

A brush fire in Kipapa Gulch near Roosevelt Bridge forced the closure of Kamehameha Highway's northbound lanes for almost an hour yesterday. Fire companies responded to the 3:55 p.m. alarm and had the blaze extinguished by 4:55 p.m.

Jonathan David Hands, a suspect in the July 15 robbery of International Savings and Loan's Waipahu branch, was arrested Monday in San Diego. CrimeStoppers received a tip two days after the robbery that Hands, 27, may be residing in the San Diego area. He was arrested without incident, officials said.

American Red Cross volunteers are providing assistance to six military families who lost their apartments in a fire in Aliamanu on Monday. The families are being put up at the Airport Plaza Hotel, where the Red Cross has established a service center, officials said.

Donations can be made payable to: American Red Cross, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816.

They also may be made by calling 739-8109.

An 87-year-old woman who died Monday from second- and third-degree burns over 40 percent of her body has been identified as Quythi Nguyen.

Police classified the case as an unattended death.

Nguyen was found Aug. 14 in her second-floor apartment at 1220 Aala St. at 4:09 p.m. by neighbors, who broke in after noticing smoke coming from the unit.

A 44-year-old Maryland man who died Monday while swimming near the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki has been identified as Kevin Lim.

The man, a civilian Department of Defense employee, was taken unconscious from the water at 3:21 p.m.

Lifeguards, fire rescue and emergency medical personnel tried unsuccessfully to revive him.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.