High court upholds 2 murder convictions
Two separate high-profile murder convictions were upheld by the Hawaii Supreme Court yesterday.In 5-0 decisions, the justices affirmed verdicts for Byran Uyesugi, convicted of first-degree murder for the 1999 shooting deaths of seven Xerox employees in Honolulu, and Frank Pauline Jr., convicted of second-degree murder for killing Dana Ireland in 1991 on the Big Island.
The high court held that the Big Island Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion in either denying Pauline's request to transfer the trial to another court or denying his request for a new trial. Pauline contended, among other things, he could not get a fair trial on the Big Island because of pretrial publicity.
The justices said it could not conclude that there was a presumption of prejudice because media accounts were predominantly factual and largely neutral regarding Pauline.
Uyesugi appealed from the Oahu Circuit Court on several points, saying it erred when it permitted the prosecution to introduce a picture showing 24 weapons that he owned but were not used in the shooting, and that he was deprived of effective counsel.
The Supreme Court found the trial court was not wrong, when, without objection from Uyesugi's lawyer, it allowed the picture of his gun collection into evidence. The justices also ruled that Uyesugi failed to show his counsel's performance was not reasonable and that his defense was substantially impaired.
Likelike students give $470 to senior charity
Likelike Elementary School students and staff donated $470 to Lanakila's Adopt-a-Senior 2002 fund-raiser to help provide a hot holiday meal to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities.This is the third holiday season the school has donated money to the fund-raiser, which provides 1,110 meals to seniors and disabled adults on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The children also made cards to accompany meals on deliveries. For more information about the program or to donate, call 531-0555.
Christmas Day quake shakes the Big Island
HILO >> A moderate 3.8-magnitude earthquake shook the Big Island at 2:52 p.m. on Christmas Day, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said,The center was in the Kau District, five miles west of Pahala at a depth of 2.7 miles, said observatory head Don Swanson.
Although that's on the side of Mauna Loa, it's about 17 miles from Mauna Loa's summit and was not related to the very slow swelling at the summit which could signal an eruption some day, Swanson said.
Although the quake was felt islandwide, it produced no damage.
Pineapple growers win environmental honor
SAN FRANCISCO >> The Pineapple Grower's Association of Hawaii was selected as one the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Champions" of 2002, the agency said yesterday.The companies of the association -- Dole Food Hawaii, Del Monte Fresh Produce, and Maui Pineapple Co. -- reduced their pesticide and herbicide use through a variety of techniques, the EPA said. Those include utilizing fallow periods, using plastic mulch to reduce herbicide use and using granular ant bait to control ants and reduce use the insecticides.
The EPA's Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program is a voluntary program that forms partnerships to reduce the health and environmental risks associated with pesticide use.
The Hawaii group was one of 18 groups selected for their efforts to promote integrated pest management and to advance pollution prevention. They also were honored for their commitment to protecting human health and the environment, the EPA said.
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>> River of Life staff member Ronnie Lorenzo is a woman. She was incorrectly referred to as "he" in a story on Page A3 in yesterday's morning edition. Corrections and clarifications
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
Police want to question man in store robbery
Police want help finding Jay Young Kwon, who is wanted on warrants charging him with robbery and kidnapping and for questioning in the Dec. 6 robbery of Black Pearl of Tahiti at 661 Keeaumoku St.
Kwon, 37, is 5 feet 7, 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, police said. He has a burn scar on his right wrist, a tattoo of a dragon on his left arm and "JAY" tattooed on the back of the arm.
Police said a man and a woman fled with $2,000 in cash and $5,000 worth of jewelry in the robbery. The man showed the store owner a handgun tucked in his waistband.
The couple fled in a car driven by the woman, police said.
The car was a black, two-door Ford sedan with Hawaii license plate "JCJ 828," police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Michael Ogawa at 529-3357 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Credit card fraud cases prompt police warning
Honolulu police are warning merchants that thieves may be working in tandem to make purchases with fraudulent credit cards during the holiday season.For example, last month a woman tried to buy more than $1,000 worth of merchandise at a Honolulu electronics store but the cashier found that her credit card was not authorized for use.
The woman explained the card had been stolen but was reauthorized.
Police said the woman's partner called the store, pretending to represent the credit card company and authorizing purchases.
Police said there have been several similar cases beginning shortly before Thanksgiving. The most recent case occurred a few days ago at a Pearlridge jewelry store where a cashier did not believe the caller and refused the purchase.
Man allegedly punches, threatens daughters
Police arrested a 41-year-old Kalihi man on suspicion that he punched his oldest daughter and threatened to kill his four other daughters if they called police.Police said the man and his 20-year-old daughter got into an argument about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday when he returned home.
He allegedly punched her, leaving bruises and swelling on her face, and then picked up a knife and threatened the other daughters.
Power disrupted after car hits utility pole
A car crashed into a utility pole on Sierra Drive near Mariposa Drive in Kaimuki about 5 a.m. today, knocking down the pole and cutting off power to 40 homes.No one was seriously injured, police said. Fred Kobashigawa, Hawaiian Electric Company spokesman, said power is expected to be restored by this afternoon.
LEEWARD OAHU
1 caught, 2 sought in early morning stabbing
Police arrested one man and are looking for two more allegedly involved in a stabbing early yesterday morning.Police said three men, ages 21 to 25, were leaving a birthday party at the Waimalu Shopping Center when they were confronted by three other men in the parking lot.
Following an argument, one man from the second group stabbed all three men in the first group, police said.
Arriving officers arrested a 21-year-old man for investigation of second-degree assault.
Truck hits utility pole, stalls Waianae traffic
A truck crashed into a utility pole on Farrington Highway near Piliokahe Avenue in Nanakuli about 4:30 a.m. today, police said, causing traffic delays but no serious injuries.Police set up a contra-flow lane after the pole fell and blocked the west-bound lanes. The accident caused no power outage.
