Juror pool runs dry in Big Isle abuse case
HILO » Circuit Court ran out of prospective jurors in an attempted-murder case because too many of them already knew about a 10-year-old Big Island girl found near death in 2005.
Although 65 of 450 potential jurors survived the first round of questions and will go to the second round, questioning of an additional 360 potential jurors will resume April 2.
Hyacinth Poouahi, 39, who was a caregiver for the girl, now 12, is to be tried on charges of endangering the welfare of a minor, assault, kidnapping and terroristic threatening, as well as attempted murder by not providing proper care.
The girl, whose injuries included rotting flesh, apparent burn marks and broken bones in a hand and foot, was in a coma for six weeks. The state took custody of the girl and placed her in foster care after she was released from a hospital.
Judge Glen Hara turned down an attempt by Poouahi's lawyer Keith Shigetomi to have the attempted-murder charge dropped.
In the first round of selection starting last week, 65 prospective jurors were considered free enough from knowledge of the case to advance to a second round, in which they will be asked about their knowledge of potential witnesses.
Potential jurors with some knowledge of a case frequently tell the court they can ignore prior knowledge, but in this case, many people said they already made up their mind about guilt and would be unlikely to change.