Trial delay sought
in girl’s killing
Prosecutors are expected to ask a Circuit Court judge on Monday to delay the trial of Christopher Aki, charged with the slaying of 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal more than a year ago.
It is the latest twist in the trial, which was to begin Tuesday. Last week, court papers filed by the defense alleged that Dennis Cacatian, one of Kahealani's uncles, was responsible for her murder.
Prosecutors apparently want to match the DNA from blood found in Aki's car after it was seized following his arrest. Prosecutors and Aki's attorney declined comment yesterday on the state's motion.
However, according to court documents filed last week by Aki, the bloodstains found on a watch recovered from Aki's car revealed DNA from an unknown male.
Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall will hear the state's arguments Monday. She has yet to rule on the state's motion to preclude the defense from introducing evidence of Cacatian's previous rape convictions and a search of his Aiea home in February 2003.
Deputy public defender Todd Eddins argued last week that the evidence is crucial to the defense of Aki, who is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly causing Kahealani's death or failing to obtain proper medical care for her.
Cacatian has declined to comment on Aki's statements.
Cacatian was in federal court yesterday at the request of Pre-Trial Services, which wanted to review his bail status after learning of recent news reports linking him to Kahealani's death.
Cacatian is to be sentenced Monday for possessing illegal rifle magazines, which were seized during a search of his home in February 2003.
"The only thing we were there for was on the basis of comments made by a lawyer in another case across the street that were not evidence," said assistant federal defender Michael Weight, who represents Cacatian.
