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Suspect in Army pilot's slaying fit to stand trial
U.S. Magistrate Judge Leslie Kobayashi has ruled that Bryson Jose, 20, is fit to stand trial in the 1998 shooting death of Army helicopter pilot John Latchum at Waianae Army Recreation Center.Concluding a status conference on his mental competency, she said there is no evidence to indicate he could not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct.
She also said he would be able to assist his counsel to prepare and conduct a defense.
Trial is set for 9 a.m. Nov. 14 before U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.
According to the FBI, Roberto Miguel, 17, admitted firing the .22-caliber rifle but said he fired at Jose's urging.
Earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno declined to authorize a death penalty prosecution for Jose and Keala Leong, 19, also charged in the case.
Miguel, a juvenile, was not eligible for the death penalty.
Latchum, 33, at the recreation center with his family, was trying to keep intruders from breaking into his rented cottage when he was shot to death, investigators said.
Trial was delayed after a defense motion was granted for Jose to undergo mental examination.
Public welcome to attend 3 OHA candidate forums
Hawaii voters interested in learning more about the 96 candidates running for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will have three chances to view them all at one time later this month.The State Council of Hawaiian Homestead Association and the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs are sponsoring OHA candidate forums on Wednesday, Thursday and Oct. 30.
Candidates will be given two minutes to introduce themselves and another three minutes to answer a question that is drawn from a koa bowl.
The forums will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Stevenson Middle School in Punchbowl; 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimanalo; and at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at Waianae Intermediate School.
Recent court rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. District Court have opened the OHA election to all Hawaii registered voters with candidates from any ethnicity.
As a result, all nine seats on the OHA board are up for election on Nov. 7, the first time since the agency was created in 1980.
Four of the trustee seats are for four-year terms, while the remaining five are for two-year terms.
One of the 97 candidates who signed up to run last month for OHA had withdrawn from the election as of Sept. 26.
Waialae Beach parking will be closed nights
Waialae Beach Park parking lot will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. beginning Monday, the city said.Signs have been posted that no vehicles will be allowed in the lot during those hours. The evening closings follow numerous vandalism incidents and late night disturbances reported by the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board. Police will enforce the closure and cite violators.
Whale sanctuary offers grants for researchers
Researchers interested in humpback whales may apply for $40,000 in grants from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.Projects that focus on the population, distribution or behavior of humpback whales will be evaluated for their ability to add to knowledge of the central North Pacific stock in their Hawaiian habitat.
Oct. 21 is the deadline for proposals to be submitted. Information is available from Jeffrey S. Walters at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, 587-0106.
Being an organ donor topic at Ewa library
"Organ Donation: Is it for You?" That's the topic of a free lecture and discussion at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Ewa Beach Library at 91-950 North Road.Christine Bogee of the Organ Center of Hawaii will speak. The Friends of Ewa Beach Public and School Library is the sponsor.
Aina Haina library invites kids for a treat
Magician Bradley Choy and author Rick Carroll are set to psych kids up for Halloween at Aina Haina Library.Carroll, who specializes in spooky tales, will leave kids spellbound Tuesday, and Choy will work his magic Oct. 24. Both events, for children of all ages, begin at 6:30 p.m.
Maui, Big Island get federal housing grants
Grants totaling $2,049,100 will be used to develop and operate housing for disabled people on Maui and in Kau on the Big Island.Some $1,390,100 of U.S. Housing and Urban Development funds has been awarded to Mental Help Hawaii, and $695,000 to Kau Group Home.
Tomorrow
Some events of interest5 p.m. Monday, Mayor's Conference Room, Honolulu Hale, third floor: Vision meeting. Contact: Salvatore Lanzilotti, 831-4351.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Suspect faces charges in Keehi Lagoon killing
A 54-year-old man arrested Thursday night for allegedly beating a man to death with a baseball bat at Keehi Lagoon was expected to be charged today, police said.The man was convicted on two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of a woman and her daughter in 1973.
Police said the suspect and the 47-year-old victim were drinking at the park Thursday night when the attack occurred.
Crash kills Kihei woman; police seek other driver
WAILUKU -- Maui police investigators were searching for the driver of a car involved in a two-vehicle collision in Kihei that killed a woman last night.Bernice Vakauta, 36, of Kihei was pronounced dead at Maui Memorial Hospital after sustaining head injuries in the crash. She died a day after her birthday.
Vakauta was driving a car south on South Kihei Road when it was struck by a car coming out of the Menehune Shores Condominium, police officer Ricky Uedoi said.
Uedoi said the car spun and flipped on its side on a retaining wall. Vakauta, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle.
The crash took place at 10:56 p.m. The fleeing vehicle was described as a brown sedan, possibly a Cutlass Supreme.
Vakauta's death is the 28th traffic fatality on Maui this year.
Pedestrian injured in Maili improves
The woman struck by a car Thursday morning in Maili has improved to fair condition at the Queen's Medical Center.She was struck by a 1988 Nissan Sentra while running across Farrington Highway near Maipalaoa Road at 5:14 a.m.
Witnesses sought in Kalihi hit-and-run
Police are seeking witnesses to a hit-and-run accident yesterday in Kalihi that left an 85-year-old man critically injured.The man, a pedestrian, was crossing near Alaneo and North School streets when he was hit by a car at 6:36 p.m., police said.
He was in critical condition at the Queen's Medical Center this morning. Witnesses can call traffic investigators at 529-3499.
Teen grabs purse, drags woman, 72, along ground
HILO -- Police are looking for a teen who grabbed a purse from a 72-year-old woman, dragging her along the ground at Prince Kuhio Plaza mall at about 7 last night. The woman said the boy was about 5 feet 4 inches tall and wore a black T-shirt and long black shorts.
