Honolulu prosecutors will ask an Oahu grand jury to return murder and robbery charges against a third suspect in the February beating death of man in Wahiawa, said Lt. Bill Kato, Honolulu Police Department homicide detail. Beating death case
going to grand juryBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comPolice charged two other suspects, 19-year-old Joseph Kaleo Marshall and 18-year-old Gary McCormick-Fesagaiga, on Wednesday.
The two made their initial court appearance on second-degree murder and robbery charges yesterday. They remain in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail each.
"The prosecutor said the case against Gary and Kaleo is much stronger. And although (the third suspect) did participate in the beating, they would rather go to the grand jury," Kato said.
The prosecutor's office has taken over the cases of all three suspects, said spokesman Jim Fulton.
Police arrested all three on Monday and released the third suspect, a 19-year-old Mililani man, on Tuesday.
Mark Mehr, 43, was found unconscious on the sidewalk fronting 329 California Ave. on Feb. 11. He was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and died on Feb. 21 without regaining consciousness.
Police believe Mehr was on his way home when he was confronted by a man in front of an apartment complex on California Avenue.
During the confrontation, the three suspects appeared and punched, kicked and stomped Mehr, according to documents police submitted in court.
The man who originally confronted Mehr identified McCormick-Fesagaiga as the one who punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious. Mehr's money and jewelry were then taken, according to the court documents.
The man also identified a 36-year-old man who drove Mehr's pickup truck and parked it in the apartment complex. Police also arrested him Monday but released him Wednesday.