StarBulletin.com

Suspect faces multiple charges in killing at Nanakuli eatery


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POSTED: Wednesday, February 03, 2010

A preliminary hearing will be held tomorrow afternoon for the 36-year-old Punchbowl man suspected of running down and killing a 20-year-old woman early Sunday morning after an argument at a McDonald's drive-through in Nanakuli.

Albert Birmingham, 36, of Punchbowl, who was charged Monday night with first-degree negligent homicide, fleeing the scene of an accident and failure to render aid, made his first court appearance yesterday morning before District Judge Colette Garibaldi.

She continued Birmingham's bail at $150,000 and set his next court date for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Birmingham was honking his horn at a car ahead of him in the drive-through at about 3:05 a.m. Sunday, according to a police affidavit filed in District Court. A 45-year-old Mililani man who was driving the car in front, in which Raelynn “;Aloha”; Adams and a teenage girl were passengers, confronted Birmingham.

When Adams and the girl tried to pull the Mililani man away, Birmingham allegedly drove his sport utility vehicle forward, running over Adams and striking the teen, Morrisha Holi-Arrington, according to the affidavit.

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Birmingham fled the scene, but police later found his blue Ford Expedition parked in front of 87-188 Holopono St. with the suspect lying inside the vehicle, the affidavit said.

Adams was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where she died. Holi-Arrington was treated and released.

Two of Adams' uncles, Andrew and Daniel, were present in the courtroom yesterday when Birmingham, dressed in a white prison jumpsuit and shackles, appeared before Garibaldi. The defendant did not speak and only stared at the floor during the brief session.

Andrew Adams told reporters after the hearing that they were there “;just to see the man. ... She's my godchild. There are so many questions. I wanted him to recognize who I am. She's is going to be missed.”;

“;This is something that is not supposed to happen,”; added Andrew Adams, who said that he lost his daughter in an auto accident in 2003. “;But it happened. You can't do nothing but leave it in hands of the courts.”;

Birmingham has two convictions from 2004 for felony criminal property damage and operating a vehicle under the influence, state criminal records show.