A Big Island Air Force jet mechanic appeared this week in Okinawa before a military judge who will determine whether he would face a court-martial for allegedly murdering a fellow airman. Isle airman makes first
appearance at hearingHe is believed to have been
involved in a murder on OkinawaBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comAirman 1st Class Damien G. Kawai, 19, has been held since Nov. 19 on charges that he murdered Airman 1st Class Charles F. Eskew Jr. He was charged Dec. 5 with a possible capital crime.
Eskew, 20, was found dead Nov. 17 in his dormitory room. He is believed to have been strangled and his wrists cut to make it look like a suicide.
Kadena Air Force Station officials have not released the cause of death.
Eskew's family and friends in Great Falls, Mont., have said that they heard that the victim may have been killed during a prank in which someone put Visine eye drops in his beer. Visine can act as a laxative.
The Article 32 hearing, conducted by Maj. Steve Thompson, will determine whether Air Force prosecutors have enough evidence to support a murder charge. Kawai could face a general court-martial on a capital offense, which means he could face the death sentence.
Kawai, an F-15 jet mechanic, graduated from Pahoa High in 2000. He joined the Air Force in September 2000.
Kawai and Eskew attended the same technical school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas before being assigned to Okinawa. They worked in the same section at Kadena's 18th Maintenance Squadron.
Thompson will make a recommendation to Brig. Gen. Gary North, 18th Wing commanding officer, whether Kawai's case should be sent to a court-martial. The final determination will be made by Lt. Gen. Thomas Waskow, commander of the 5th Air Forces and U.S. Forces Japan.
It will be Waskow who will determine if Kawai would face the death penalty.
Kadena is located in the central portion of Okinawa and has a population of 21,000 active-duty military personnel, dependents and Department of Defense civilians.