City won’t
prosecute in school
worker death
Murder charges against a
By Debra Barayuga
14-year-old girl won't be pursued,
prosecutors say
Star-BulletinCity prosecutors will not pursue murder charges against a 14-year-old Waianae Intermediate girl arrested in connection with the death of a school cafeteria supervisor in May.
Larry Grean, director of screening and intake division for the city prosecutor's office, yesterday said they reviewed police reports of the case and determined that Iwalani Kaleikoa's death was not intentional, but an "unforeseen, unexpected happening."
Prosecutors found no proof that the 14-year-old girl intentionally, knowingly or recklessly caused Kaleikoa's death -- the elements needed to sustain a second-degree murder charge, he said.
"We determined the actions of the suspect were purely accidental," Grean said. The case now is officially closed.
Kaleikoa was one of three adults who attempted to break up a fight between two 14-year-old girls at Waianae Intermediate May 13.
They managed to separate the two when one of the girls swung her elbow back to try and reach the other, and accidentally struck Kaleikoa -- who was standing slightly behind her -- in the chest, Grean said.
The girl was not trying to attack Kaleikoa, he said. She didn't even realize she had struck Kaleikoa but later admitted she probably did, although she wasn't aware of it, according to Grean.
Kaleikoa died of cardiac arrhythmia, a sudden interruption of her heartbeat, caused by blunt trauma to the chest. While it is improbable that someone dies of a single blow to the chest, it is possible under the right conditions, Grean said.
Trauma to the chest in the right place at the right time can interrupt the cardiac cycle, preventing the heart from restarting and resulting in death.
Medical examiners found no other injuries on Kaleikoa, 44, although earlier reports indicated she may have struck her head when she fell to the ground.
School officials have declined to disclose how the girls were disciplined.
The two girls have not returned to classes since the incident, said Leeward Deputy District Superintendent Alvin Nagasako. They will be attending Waianae High in the fall.
