Man guilty in robbery and deadly shooting

The judge declares a mistrial for three of his co-defendants

A jury yesterday found a former city parks employee guilty of manslaughter for gunning down an Aiea man in a botched robbery attempt.

The Circuit Court jury also convicted Micah Kanahele, 24, of first-degree robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and six other firearms counts.

The jurors, who had deliberated for 11 days, could not reach a verdict on charges brought against Kanahele's three co-defendants.

Judge Michael Town declared a mistrial in the cases of Rosalino Ramos, 24, and Jason Rumbawa, 25, who, with Kanahele, were charged with second-degree murder, and Anthony Brown, 24, charged with first-degree robbery.

It was the second trial for the four men charged in the Oct. 26, 2003, death of Greg Morishima, who was killed while visiting a friend on Pamoho Place in Aiea. Another jury was unable to reach a verdict in April, resulting in a mistrial.

A fifth man, Kevin Harris, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and testified against the other four in both jury trials. He testified that the men were hoping to steal drugs after unsuccessful attempts at two other homes.

The resident of the home said men wearing masks approached his carport and shot Morishima, 49, after he laughed and commented, "it's too early for Halloween."

Kanahele will be sentenced in February.

Kanahele, Ramos and Harris are also awaiting trial in a separate shooting that occurred five days later in the parking lot of Pearl City Longs Drug Store where one man was killed and another wounded during a botched marijuana sale.