StarBulletin.com

Man accused in killing of lawyer is due in court


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POSTED: Friday, May 01, 2009

A 45-year-old Waimanalo man charged with fatally shooting lawyer Craig Kimsel on Tuesday in Kailua is scheduled to appear today in Honolulu District Court.

Prosecutors charged Daniel Kalani Kahanaoi of Kaaai Street yesterday with second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, two counts of carrying and using a firearm in the commission of a felony and violation of a temporary restraining order. His bail was set at $1 million.

Kahanaoi was looking for his ex-girlfriend, 41-year-old Rusty Lee Anoba, when he went to Kimsel's Oneawa Street house Tuesday night, police and Kimsel family members said.

Anoba, a client and former girlfriend of Kimsel's, went to his house Tuesday afternoon to hide from Kahanaoi, Kimsel's family member said.

Both Anoba and Kimsel had filed for restraining orders against Kahanaoi. Kimsel spent thousands to fortify his Kailua home with an extensive security system and high walls to protect himself against Kahanaoi, Kimsel's family members said.

Kahanaoi shot the 47-year-old criminal defense attorney twice — once in the neck and another time in the back — at 9:23 p.m., according to a police affidavit filed in court.

Kahanaoi fled to a house in the Ahuimanu area, the residence of another ex-girlfriend, possibly to see his 12-year-old daughter, police said in the affidavit. That ex-girlfriend also had a temporary restraining order out against him in 2003.

Three men who were working on a kitchen construction project at Kimsel's house identified Kahanaoi as the man who shot and killed Kimsel, police said in the affidavit.

Kimsel leaves behind two sons, Dion, 23, who lived with him, and Jacob, 16, who lived with his mother in Florida.