Accused Maui killer
suspected of faking
mental incompetency

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- A Maui man accused of killing two people isn't cooperating with a court's attempt to determine if he's mentally fit to stand trial.

Daniel Kosi has refused to have medical officials do a scan of his brain and has refused to take some psychological tests.

Yesterday, during a hearing to determine his mental fitness, Kosi refused to sit through testimony by a psychiatrist.

Guards escorted him out of the courtroom.

Maui Circuit Judge Boyd Mossman decided to allow the hearing to continue. The hearing is scheduled to resume Oct. 29.

Kosi is charged with the gunshot slaying of kickboxer Eric Vinge outside his Paukukalo home and the stabbing death of 17-year-old Aisha Tolentino at a south Maui condominium in 1997.

He has been held at the Halawa High Security Facility, pending trial in January.

Defense attorney Joseph Mottl said Kosi had been in two vehicular accidents and had suffered head injuries prior to the alleged killings.

During the hearing, two clinical psychologists testified there is a possibility that Kosi may be faking his mental problems.

Deputy Prosecutor Robert Rivera said Kosi has made numerous requests to borrow books from the prison library, including law books and a book about mental disorders.

Dr. Toshiyuki Shibata, a state psychiatrist, said based on discussion with jail personnel, Kosi seems quite capable of making requests to jail personnel but acts differently in front of those evaluating his mental behavior.

Shibata said Kosi has the mental capacity to escape from the state mental hospital on Oahu, if placed there for evaluation.