Detective says suspect apologized
before killing his victim

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

HILO >> Wesley Matheson, 19, was lying on the ground outside his house south of Hilo. He'd already been shot once.

"Wes was still moving," Detective Richard Miyamoto testified.

According to Miyamoto, John McGovern, 20, reloaded a .22-caliber rifle and walked over to Matheson.

"Sorry, friend," McGovern said, and he shot Matheson.

Miyamoto testified yesterday in a preliminary hearing for Kyle Hill, 19, alleged to be McGovern's accomplice in a double murder last month. Also killed was Cassidy Toole, 20.

Miyamoto said his information was based on four interviews with Hill following the May 6 slayings.

Hill and McGovern were at the house where Matheson and Toole lived on May 6, Miyamoto said he learned from Hill. The two were shooting bottles with the rifle.

"They came up with a plan to kill both Wes and Cassidy," Miyamoto testified.

He gave no reason for their decision. Neither Deputy Prosecutor Jack Matsukawa nor defense attorney Brian De Lima asked for a reason.

Hill went into the house and asked Matheson to to see his chameleons, Miyamoto said.

Outside, Hill shot Matheson. He went inside and gave the rifle to McGovern, who shot Toole.

They went outside again, and McGovern shot Matheson after saying he was sorry. They went inside, and Hill shot Toole.

They cleaned up the house, loaded the bodies into Toole's van and dumped them in bushes some distance from the house. Then they took 20 small marijuana plants and some pills they found in the refrigerator and drove off in Toole's black Honda Civic. Police found the car two days later, leading to an investigation and their arrests.

De Lima said the Hill interviews are on videotapes made by police:

>> After Hill was arrested, Miyamoto told Hill he was his "best friend."

>> Miyamoto also told Hill that U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. was interested in taking over the case that and a federal conviction could lead to the death penalty.

De Lima said outside the court that he doubts that the federal death penalty would apply in this case. But Hill had already confessed to Miyamoto after being read his rights and saying he did not want an attorney.

Judge Jeffrey Choi found sufficient basis to continue holding Hill for trial in Circuit Court.

A preliminary hearing for McGovern is set for June 28.