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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, May 9, 2000

Uyesugi jury set; opening argument starts Monday

A jury of six men and six women was selected today for the murder trial of accused gunman Byran Uyesugi, charged with killing seven people in Hawaii's worst multiple slaying.

Two men and two women were selected as alternate jurors.

Each side was given 12 peremptory challenges or the right to dismiss any juror without giving an explanation. The state used five of its challenges; the defense used seven.

Both the prosecution and defense attorneys today agreed jury selection went smoother than anticipated.

Prescreening eliminated 600 out of 1,000 potential jurors by asking them via mailed questionnaires whether they could serve from April 24 to June 23, the estimated time of jury selection and trial. About 400 residents appeared the week of April 24 to answer questions about whether or not they could remain fair and impartial despite news accounts of the shootings. Jurors were excused for various reasons; others were sent to serve on other juries.

Opening statements will begin Monday. Uyesugi is charged with first degree murder because there are multiple victims, seven counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder in the November 1999 shooting at the Xerox building.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle will try the case himself with the assistance of deputies Chris Van Marter and Kevin Takata. Defense attorneys Jerel Fonseca and Rodney Ching will also have former colleague Priscilla Mills on their team.

Hanauma Bay likely to reopen tomorrow

Hanauma Bay is expected to reopen tomorrow after being closed since Monday so a clogged sewer line could be repaired, says park manager Alan Hong. The park is normally closed Tuesday.

The line was actually clogged since Friday but two trucks worked continuously for three days, carrying sewage out of the park's sewage holding tank to a nearby lift station to keep the popular beach open over the weekend, he said.

None of the toilets were backed up in the park's four restrooms and "most people didn't know what was going on. They didn't know how hard everybody was working to keep the park open," according to Hong.

The sewage overflow was caused by a clog in the sewage line on Nawiliwili Street outside the park, he said.

An old cesspool caught the overflow from the park's sewage holding tank and there was no spillage into the bay, Hong said.

State's tax revenue shows a drop for April

The state collected $248.8 million last month, down $7.1 million from April 1999, or about a 2.8 percent decrease.

Tax Director Ray Kamikawa said general excise and use taxes dropped by $11.8 million.

He said this was partly because April 30 was a Sunday, and taxpayers were allowed to pay taxes on May 1, pushing some general excise revenues from April into May.

Individual income tax collections increased $9.9 million because of a $14 million jump in taxes withheld on wages.

Despite the April decrease, tax revenues for the first 10 months of the fiscal year total $2.4 billion, $59 million and 2.5 percent ahead of the same period the previous year.

Forum will discuss heart attack, stroke factors

Ten guest lecturers will discuss "Heart Attack and Brain Attack in the New Millennium" at a free public meeting sponsored by Straub Foundation May 27 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The program, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be preceded by a two-day professional meeting for physicians, nurses and other health professionals.

Dr. Cherylee Chang of the Queen's Medical Center and Dr. Roger White of Straub Clinic & Hospital are co-chairs of the program. The HMSA Foundation and the Queen's Medical Center are major supporters.

Heart disease and stroke account for 38 percent of all deaths in Hawaii, according to Straub Foundation. A resident dies of cardiovascular disease about every three hours, it says.

The public program May 27 will cover warning signs, risk factors and the importance of early treatment of heart attack and stroke.

The latest information and recommendations for prevention and treatment will be presented by faculty at the professional symposium.

To register, call Straub Foundation, 524-6755.

Corrections The name of the 2-year-old child found yesterday after having been missing for two days is Krystal Mines and her mother's name is Kimberly Mines; a story and photo caption yesterday had incorrect names.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Hearing tomorrow morning
for Marine accused of
murdering daughter

A hearing on a murder charge against Marine Cpl. James Bingham, accused in his daughter's March 11 death, takes place at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

An investigating officer will hear testimony, receive other evidence and then offer his opinions and recommendations to Bingham's commanding officer.

The commanding officer will review the report and determine whether trial by general court-martial is warranted, Marine base officials said.

Bingham's wife, Cpl. Tricia M. Bingham, 22, was charged in March with making false statements regarding the death of the 18-month-old girl. She also was charged with conspiracy and obstructing justice.

The girl died of suffocation. She was pronounced dead in the Castle Hospital emergency room.

Cpl. James Bingham had been charged earlier with murder in the girl's death.

Police looking for suspect in Mililani carjack case

Police are searching for a man who carjacked another man in Mililani yesterday.

The motorist, 19, was stopped at Moenamanu Street and Kipapa Drive when the suspect entered the passenger door of his 1997 beige Chevy pickup truck and ordered him to drive at 3:25 a.m. The suspect, who had a handgun, later told the driver to get out of the truck, police said.

The driver got out unharmed at Kuahelani Avenue and Meheula Parkway and the suspect drove off.

Man accused of threatening wife, hitting her with phone

Police arrested a 44-year-old man yesterday for allegedly threatening and attacking his wife at a Salt Lake home.

The husband accused his wife of "fooling around" on him while at their Ala Leleu Street home and threatened her with a hunting knife at 8 a.m., police said.

He then reportedly hit her on the head with a cordless phone, police said.

He was arrested at 10:30 a.m. for first-degree terroristic threatening and domestic abuse.