LIHUE >> Two Kauai men are scheduled for a preliminary hearing tomorrow on three charges of attempted murder and long lists of related offenses stemming from an attack on a group of gay campers at Polihale State Park early Saturday. Hearing scheduled
for 2 men accused of
Kauai attack on gays
By Anthony Sommer
Kauai correspondentOrion P. Macomber, 19, was arraigned yesterday on 11 felony charges and Eamonn D. Carolan, 18, on 10 felonies. They are being held in lieu of $250,000 bail each.
The suspects are accused of setting one tent on fire in which two men were sleeping and pouring kerosene on a second tent. They also are accused of attempting to run down several of the campers with the car they were driving.
Police found the two suspects at a nearby campsite. They had two cans of kerosene that allegedly were taken from one of the victim's vehicles.
Martin Rice, a gay activist who was camping with the group, said they all are friends who frequently go camping trips together. The group's campsite was marked with a 3-by-5 rainbow flag, a gay rights symbol, he said.
None of the group had any contact with the two suspects prior to the assault, which began about 3:30 a.m, Rice said.
Rice said both suspects repeatedly screamed "faggots" at the campers and one yelled, "The Bible tells us to kill you Sodomites."
Rice said, "It's more Bible-based bigotry."
Hawaii currently has no "hate crimes" statutes on the books. Gov. Ben Cayetano is expected to sign a bill passed by the Legislature last session providing enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by a victim's race, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation.