IN COURT

Grisly killing described
at murder trial

By Lori Tighe
Star-Bulletin

They spread a blue tarp in front of him, and Leo Tuaoa was shot four times and then wrapped up in it. The body was put in the trunk of a car that was set ablaze Feb. 23, 1990.

Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter described the methodical gangster killing in his opening statements of the murder trial for Wallace "Ditto" Rodrigues.

Rodrigues of Waianae faces a second-degree murder charge for Tuaoa's death.

He is serving 10 years for manslaughter and felony possession of a gun in the death of Wayne Pemberton in April 1995.

He also faces two additional separate murder charges for Lorenzo Young and William "Willy" Lau.

Rodrigues' lawyer Pamela O'Leary Tower waived his right to an opening statement before Judge Wendell Huddy. She told the media she could not comment about the case.

The murder of Tuaoa was "unjustified, unreasonable and unnecessary," Van Marter said.

Although he told the jury they would probably hear about Tuaoa's alleged drug dealings.

"We don't expect anyone to like him. But don't lose sight of the big picture," Van Marter said.

Tuaoa had met Rodrigues, Glenn "Lionel" Sequin Sr. and a few other men at Sequin's Waianae home in February 1990.

Sequin had a gun and Rodrigues had a gun that looked like an Uzi, but Tuaoa had no gun, Van Marter said.

"Hostility toward Leo increased. He became the subject of an armed interrogation for allegedly stealing drugs from Charlie Stevens (an organized crime figure," he said.

Sequin asked Tuaoa, " 'Do I look like a killer?' " according to Van Marter.

Tuaoa answered, " 'No, you look like a nice respectable man.' "

"But Lionel (Sequin) was unmoved. He shot him point blank in the face," Van Marter said.

Tuaoa took a few steps toward the kitchen, when Rodrigues shot Tuaoa twice in the right chest, the prosecutor said. Sequin fired the fourth shot to the head.

Sequin, later charged with Tuaoa's murder, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. But prosecutors didn't have enough evidence to charge Rodrigues with it too.

Police received new evidence linking Rodrigues in 1995, Van Marter said.