StarBulletin.com

Man not guilty in assault case


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POSTED: Friday, July 10, 2009

A state jury deliberated 20 minutes before finding a Waipahu man was not responsible for causing a crash on the H-1 freeway airport viaduct in which his wife lost her left arm.

The jury found Iovani Alatini not guilty yesterday of second-degree assault.

This was the second time Alatini stood trial on the charge. A state judge declared a mistrial last October after another jury could not reach a verdict.

Alatini admitted kicking the steering wheel of the family sport utility vehicle during an argument with his wife as she was driving Jan. 18, 2007; but both he and his wife said the kick did not cause the crash.

Lise Solomua-Alatini said she crashed the SUV after she took her eyes off the road to hit her husband.

She also admitted speeding, driving recklessly and drinking while driving.