HILO -- An eyewitness to the shooting deaths of two Mexican nationals was to testify today in a preliminary hearing for two men charged with the murders. Murder witness may be criminal
But the witness, Antonio De La Torre Gonzalez, may give only limited testimony because he may be suspected of crimes himself.
Court documents based on police information have indicated De La Torre was present at a Volcano home when suspects Francisco Davalos, 19, and Hector Lopez, 18, both Mexican nationals, allegedly shot victims Arturo Renteria Hernandez, 35, and his brother Armando, 23.
Police have said the four men were suspected of being involved in heroin trafficking.
The suspects considered shooting De La Torre but decided to let him go, the documents say.
A former hospital administrator has filed a lawsuit against the state Health Department alleging he was fired earlier this year for blowing the whistle on unauthorized food purchase practices at Kohala Hospital. Former hospital administrator
files whistleblower suitManuel S. Anduha, Jr., hospital administrator since 1994, was fired April 11 by Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, created by the Legislature to manage state hospitals.
According to the lawsuit, Anduha informed the state attorney general, Department of Health and his superiors of his suspicions beginning in 1994.
Anduha requested an investigation in which independent auditors reported that funds apparently had been diverted for food purchases, according to the lawsuit. Anduha asked for help from the state to monitor purchases at Kohala Hospital on the Big Island. However, an audit conducted by the state attorney general's office found no irregularities.
Seven customers have sued Perfect Title Co., saying they have either lost or stand to lose money from deceptive practices. Perfect Title Co. sued;
clients face foreclosureThey filed a class-action suit in Circuit Court yesterday.
Perfect Title has been challenging land titles here under 19th-century Hawaiian monarchy law. Company president Donald Lewis was not available for comment.
Losses to date by the seven plaintiffs and others have totaled "several million dollars," the suit says.
A Perfect Title customer typically pays $500 for a title search and from $1,500 to $2,000 in fees and costs for documents, the suit says.
The seven plaintiffs followed Perfect Title instructions and stopped making mortgage payments because they were told titles were "no good," the suit says.
After foreclosure threats began, Lewis and David Keanu Sai, Perfect Title executives, told worried clients to just trust them, that they would defend the titles and be there to help, the suit says.
The seven customers -- Peter Riopta, Ivan Navarro, James Mupo, Samuel Fernandez, Lucila Aguilar, Edith Mar and Vena Quinto -- want an injunction, restitution, damages and declaratory relief for "unfair and deceptive practices and unjust enrichment."
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffA Kahuku man and woman were charged yesterday with illegal possession of guns. Pair arrested on gun possession
A Kahuku police officer stopped the couple, both 44 years old, at about 1 a.m. Sunday after noticing the safety inspection sticker on their truck was expired.
When the officer pulled the truck over, the woman threw an eyeglass case and a leather briefcase out of the truck, police said.
The woman then got out of the truck to pick up the briefcase, and the officer saw a handgun sticking out of the briefcase, police said.
After a search of the car, police found two loaded semiautomatic pistols and a revolver.
The man is being held on $50,000 bail. The woman's bail is $15,000, police said.
A man is recovering this morning at Queen's Hospital after being beaten and robbed in Chinatown. Man hospitalized after beating
Police said witnesses on Hotel and Bethel streets heard the 54-year-old victim arguing shortly after midnight with two other men, a Waimanalo man and a Kaimuki man.
Police said the two suspects punched the victim, causing the man to fall to the ground and hit his head on the concrete curb.
The suspects then went through the man's pockets.
Police are still looking for the suspects.
Police said the victim was treated for a cut on his left eye and head injuries.
Other police/fire news:
Catamaran turns over; 20 saved
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