Victim knew she
was going to die

An officer testifies that the
murdered woman had asked
if he could help her

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- Hostage Aisha Tolentino knew she was going to be killed and pleaded with police to help her, Maui police Lt. Glenn Cuomo testified yesterday.

Cuomo said the 17-year-old Tolentino, held by accused murderer Daniel Kosi in a south Maui condominium, was scared and asked "if I could help her."

Less than 24 hours later, her lifeless body with multiple stab wounds was rolled into a hallway, and police rushed into the apartment to arrest Kosi.

Found alive in the condominium were Kosi's then girlfriend, Jennifer Kong, and hostage Chad Caldito.

Kosi, 25, is standing trial in Maui Circuit Court on 15 felony counts.

The charges include the gunshot killing of kick boxer Eric Vinge near his Paukukalo home, and the subsequent stabbing of Tolentino in Kihei in 1997.

Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto yesterday canceled his earlier decision to allow Kosi to act as his own attorney, after the defendant told the court he was feeling "drowsy."

Attorney Joseph Mottl III resumed representing Kosi, who sat with leg irons chained to a chair with guards close to him. Kosi was allowed to remain without handcuffs and to take notes during the trial.

Mottl said Kosi has been taking anti-psychotic drugs and sedatives.

Raffetto denied Mottl's request to allow Kosi to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

The judge said retired Maui Circuit Judge Boyd Mossman had already ruled that Kosi was fit to stand trial.

Cuomo testified that he asked Kosi to at least release Tolentino and Jennifer Kong.

Kosi replied he would if the police would give him the "big guy," Anthony Carvalho, who had been arrested earlier as he was leaving the condominium, Cuomo said.

Cuomo said he told Kosi he couldn't trade one hostage for another.

Kosi asked how many ambulances the police had waiting at the condominium, Cuomo said.

"Then he (Kosi) started laughing," Cuomo said.

Police surrounded the condominium on Aug. 14, after prosecution witness Abra Pearsall freed herself from inside a car trunk where she was being held by Kosi.

California visitor Gordon Gruber said he was on his way to the swimming pool at a south Maui condominium when he saw Pearsall hopping, with her hands handcuffed to her back.

"She was yelling, "Help, please help. He's going to kill me,' " Gruber said.

Gruber said he carried Pearsall to a condominium unit where his wife and a son were staying during their vacation, and they called police.