Public defenders assigned
in high-seas slaying case

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

A ship's cook from China, who allegedly killed the Taiwanese captain and Chinese first mate aboard a Taiwanese fishing vessel, appeared in federal court yesterday and was assigned two public defenders.

Lei Shi, who turned 21 Thursday, was charged Thursday in the murder of captain Chen Chung-She and first mate Li Da Feng of the fishing vessel Full Means No. 2.

Shi appeared in U.S. Magistrate Leslie Kobayashi's court with his wrist bandaged, but first assistant U.S. attorney Elliott Enoki would not comment on how he was injured.

A detention hearing will be held Thursday. Until then he will be held in custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magistrate Kevin Chang on April 8.

Enoki said the fishing boat Full Means No. 2 is considered a crime scene and remains under investigation by the government with its crew still on board at Honolulu Harbor.

The ship's Taiwanese owner, FCF Fishery Co., is cooperating with the government in its investigation, Enoki said.

Enoki said there is no extradition treaty between China and the United States, and the U.S. attorney's office will pursue prosecution "unless some higher authority tells us otherwise."

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo Jr. said Shi could face the death penalty for the killings. He said earlier that the United States has jurisdiction in this matter because the ship voluntarily entered U.S. waters.

Kubo said the State Department in Washington is working with the People's Republic of China on the case.

Crew members told FBI agents that on March 14, Shi argued with the captain because he wanted to return to China, and the captain struck him. Later, Shi talked to the first mate and stabbed them both, according to the affidavit of FBI agent Paul Amoy.

The second mate said the first mate, still alive and bleeding from the abdomen, reported that Shi had killed him, according to the affidavit.

Shi took control of the boat on March 14 by threatening the crew of 30 with knives and ordered them to throw the captain's body overboard, according to federal prosecutors and the Coast Guard.

Other crewmen saw Shi holding two bloody knives, Amoy said.

Crew members overpowered Shi last Saturday and proceeded to Hawaii to seek help, the affidavit said.

U.S. Coast Guard discovered the vessel Tuesday, 60 nautical miles south-southeast of Hilo, after a flare had been shot off. It was initially detected by a Coast Guard plane 180 nautical miles south-southeast of Hilo.

The first mate's body was found in the ship's freezer by FBI agents.