Man told detective
he kicked victim

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

One of two males charged with the beating death of an 18-year-old man outside a Waipahu convenience store told police he kicked the victim three to four times in the head.

Tali Fai, 18, is charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 6 assault that left Vaovai Faateleupu, 18, also known as Viliamu, comatose. He died Aug. 9.

A juvenile also charged with Faateleupu's murder is awaiting a waiver hearing next month in Family Court.

Yesterday, homicide Detective Anderson Hee testified in a preliminary hearing that in an interview with Fai on Aug. 9, Fai said he and the juvenile, another man and two females went to the 7-Eleven and confronted the victim and his companion.

Fai told police that the juvenile struck Faateleupu in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. The juvenile then punched Faateleupu again as he lay on the ground and then began kicking him, Hee said at the hearing.

Fai, who was wearing shoes, said he joined in but stopped after three or four kicks which he described as "pretty hard" kicks, Hee said.

Anthony Bumphus, who was with Faateleupu that night, said they were walking out of the store when they were confronted by the 17-year-old juvenile, Fai and two other males who accused them of "mobbing" their cousin the night before.

District Judge Colette Garibaldi found there was enough evidence to try Fai for second-degree murder and sent the case to Circuit Court. Fai is expected to be arraigned Aug. 30. He is being held on $200,000 bail.