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Notice of appeal filed for Uyesugi
The state public defender's office has filed a notice of appeal for convicted multiple murderer Byran Uyesugi.Uyesugi was found guilty in August for the November 1999 shooting deaths of seven of his Xerox co-workers in Hawaii's worst multiple murder.
Deputy Public Defender Ted Chinn, head of the appeals division, has ordered transcripts of the trial and other court proceedings as standard practice in an appeal.
The notice filed Oct. 6 -- a day before the deadline to appeal expired -- is directed at the judgement and sentence ordered by Judge Marie Milks on Aug. 8.
Uyesugi was sentenced to a mandatory sentence of life without parole for first-degree attempted murder, which involves more than one victim. He was also sentenced to a consecutive life-with-parole term for second-degree attempted murder -- shooting at another co-worker. He was also ordered to pay restitution.
Kona banana growers await virus-clear alert
The state has announced the beginning of a three-month waiting period to see if Kona should be declared free of the banana bunchy-top virus.The state says it has destroyed all banana plants in the Kona area, which was hit with the disease.
The waiting period will determine whether the banana aphids that transmit the disease have all died.
The state Department of Agriculture then will announce when growers may begin replanting.
"We've come this far, and the waiting period is just as crucial to the success of the program as was the destruction of all banana plants," Agriculture Director James Nakatani said yesterday.
More than 175,000 banana plants were destroyed since the eradication project began in early 1999. The last known diseased plant was killed Tuesday.
A quarantine remains in effect prohibiting movement of banana plants in North and South Kona and on Kauai and Oahu.
Bunchy-top virus is viewed as a serious threat to the Big Island's $4 million-a-year banana industry.
H-1 University on-ramp closes for rail repairs
The University Avenue on-ramp to westbound H-1 freeway lanes will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow for guardrail work.The work is being done as part of the H-1 Corridor Construction project.
Cane harvesting closes Kapaa bypass road
Sugar cane harvesting operations will require closing of the Kapaa temporary bypass road on Kauai.The state Department of Transportation said the closure will begin Saturday and continue for about two weeks.
Gorilla Foundation breaks ground on Maui
WAILUKU -- A foundation that promotes the study and preservation of the gorilla was scheduled to hold a ground-breaking ceremony today in West Maui.The Gorilla Foundation will be eventually moving to the 70-acre Allan G. Sanford Sanctuary on the hills of West Maui.
The foundation is the home of the gorilla Koko, who communicates in human sign language.
The foundation plans to establish a Koko Visitor Center in Lahaina, where people may have opportunities for live, virtual interaction with Koko from her sanctuary in the hills.
Hilo pyramid scheme targeting women
HILO -- Police are warning about a scam called the "Women's Gifting Circle." Women are asked to invest $5,000 with the promise that they'll get back $40,000, police said.Increasing numbers of women are asked to invest money, and some at the top of the "pyramid" may get money back, they said.
But the scheme is mathematically impossible, quickly requiring more women at the bottom of the pyramid than live in Hawaii.
And it's illegal, they said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police seek suspect in First Hawaiian robbery
Police were searching for a suspect who robbed the Liliha branch of First Hawaiian Bank this morning.The robbery happened at about 9:15 a.m. at 1420 Liliha St., police said.
Woman critically hurt after hit by car in Maili
A woman was critically injured after being struck by a car this morning in Maili.The accident near the Maili Texaco Foodmart on Farrington Highway occurred at about 5:14 a.m.
The woman appeared to have attempted to cross the highway when she was hit, police said. She is believed to be in her 20s or 30s and remained in critical condition as of midmorning.
Police closed part of the highway during the morning commute while they investigated the crash.
All lanes of Farrington Highway were opened at 7:53 a.m.
Big Isle man, 43, shoots neighbor's attacking bull
NORTH KOHALA, Hawaii -- A neighbor's bull attacked a Big Island man who then shot the animal numerous times, police said.The 43-year-old man from Makapala, North Kohala, told police he was investigating a noise outside his house at 3 a.m. when his neighbor's bull knocked him down.
The man was injured but was able to go into his house and get a .44 Magnum pistol. He fired all six rounds in the revolver, reloaded and fired six more rounds, police said.
When police arrived, alerted by numerous calls by neighbors, the man was angry because he ran out of ammunition, they said.
At least part of the time, the wounded bull was chasing the man, and it wasn't clear how many shots hit the animal, police added.
The man was taken to Kohala Community Hospital. No information was available on his condition.
At daybreak the bull was alive, but police called the bull's owner to put it out of its misery.
Man dies after being hit by car near Ewa offramp
The man who was struck by a car Tuesday morning near the Ewa offramp of the H-1 freeway died yesterday.He was pronounced dead at 4:42 p.m. at the Queen's Medical Center, police said. The man was standing on the side of the road next to a car when he was hit.
The death is Oahu's 53rd traffic fatality of the year, compared with 35 at the same time last year.
Maui remains identified as 1997 missing hiker
LAHAINA, Maui -- A body found in a West Maui ravine earlier this month has been identified as Peter Carter, a visitor from San Francisco who was last seen three years ago.Carter, 44, went on a hike to the Lahainaluna High School "L" on June 27, 1997. When he failed to return a day later, his brother notified police, and authorities conducted an air-and-land search for Carter.
Police Lt. Lenie Lawrence said an autopsy found no broken bones or signs of foul play and was unable to determine the cause of death.
Bystanders help nab purse-snatch suspect
A 20-year-old man was arrested yesterday for allegedly snatching a woman's purse in the downtown area yesterday.The suspect grabbed the woman's purse near 1170 Nuuanu Ave. at 6:50 p.m., police said.
He ran, but was chased and detained by two bystanders. The purse was recovered, and the suspect was arrested for second-degree robbery, police said.
The area is designated as "Weed and Seed," which allows the suspect to be prosecuted in federal court.
Father arrested in girl's abduction from Hilo CPS
HILO -- Police are holding a 46-year-old Puna man who allegedly assaulted a Child Protective Services worker and abducted his 14-year-old daughter from the agency Friday.The agency had been investigating a report of family abuse.
Arrested with the father yesterday was his son, 21, who allegedly assisted with the abduction. The daughter was returned to CPS custody while investigations continue.
