Prosecutor says victim
begged to not be harmed

By Gary Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- Big-wave surfer William R. Simpson Jr. begged to be allowed to leave an Olinda residence unharmed, seconds before he was fatally shot on the morning of June 3, 1996, Deputy Prosecutor Davelynn Tengan says.

Simpson, 40, the father of two children, was among a small group of surfers who used thrill craft to pull themselves into position to ride waves more than 35 feet high at "Jaws" on Maui's north shore.

Tengan said Simpson was shot in the head while serving as the rental agent for Olinda property owner Mike Waltze, who was helping to produce a surfing film in Fiji.

The tenant, Thomas Schillaci, 31, allegedly owed back rent to Waltze.

Schillaci, a convicted drug felon whose murder trial began yesterday in Maui Circuit Court, claims he shot Simpson in self-defense.

Defense attorney Donald Wilkerson said Simpson was a "wild man" who threatened to kill Schillaci and his wife.

Wilkerson said Simpson demanded money and was holding Schillaci's pregnant wife in a headlock, her feet kicking in the air, with a knife to her body.

Wilkerson said Schillaci told Simpson to let go of his wife and fired a warning shot at Simpson's feet, and Simpson lunged at him.

Wilkerson said Schillaci was backing away when the gun went off.

The trial in Judge Boyd Mossman's courtroom was scheduled to continue today.

Tengan said the rent was delinquent and Simpson got a monthly payment of $2,000 cash on his first visit to the residence on June 3.

Tengan said Simpson was shot when he returned a second time that day to deliver a letter showing he was acting as Waltze's agent.