Suspect’s lawyer shifts
blame in fatal
Kalihi brawl

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

One man died and another was severely beaten during a brawl at a Kalihi cockfight more than a year ago, but other people, not Lamaar Richardson, are responsible, his attorney said yesterday.

Richardson, 22, also known as Lamaar Silva, of Kapalama, is on trial as an accomplice for second-degree murder for killing Leon Fernandez and attempted second-degree murder for nearly killing Eufracio Esmerelda.

During opening statements yesterday in Circuit Court, Emlyn Higa, attorney for Richardson, singled out another defendant awaiting trial, Evan Kakugawa, as the person primarily responsible for Fernandez's death and Esmerelda's injuries.

Richardson was among five men indicted in connection with the Nov. 16, 2001, beatings that occurred off Bannister Street in Kalihi. Also indicted were Kakugawa's cousin Branden Kakugawa, Don Cabinian and Jason Yoshimura.

Fernandez suffered severe injury to the inside of his brain from being punched and kicked repeatedly, and later died in the hospital. Esmerelda's injuries included fractures to the ribs, spine, face and nose.

Two other defendants have since pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Branden Kakugawa pleaded to two counts of second-degree assault. Yoshimura pleaded to two counts of first-degree assault. Cabinian and Evan Kakugawa await separate jury-waived trials.