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Teen suspect to
Star-Bulletin staff
be tried as adultA 17-year-old man was ordered to stand trial as an adult for fatally shooting another man in Ewa Beach.
Joel Keoni Brunson, who turns 18 next month, is charged with second-degree murder, terroristic threatening and two firearms violations in the shooting death of Robert Rodemio on May 20.
Brunson's attorney, Myles Breiner, had opposed the waiver from Family Court, arguing that his client had been doing well in the past few months and was amenable to Family Court services.
Two of Brunson's therapists testified he should remain under the jurisdiction of Family Court, given his progress while under their supervision.
He had gone from straight Fs to As and is trying to get his General Equivalency Diploma, Breiner said.
The state had argued that based on the seriousness of the offense, Brunson should be "under judicial restraint for a period beyond his minority."
Since he turns 18 next month, Family Court can offer him only very limited services, said Deputy Prosecutor Lynette Lau.
After being under their jurisdiction for the past seven years, their attempts to rehabilitate him have been ineffective, as evidenced by the crimes he has been charged with, she argued.
