Witness recounts
deadly revenge

He admits taking part in
the fatal beating of Tracey
Tominaga in Makakilo last year

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By Debra Barayuga
dbarayuga@starbulletin.com

A man testified in Circuit Court yesterday that he did not think a group of companions intended to kill Tracey Tominaga above Makakilo in January 2002.

Even when former Pearl City High classmate Delaneo Puha said during the drive to Makakilo that they might have to kill Tominaga, "at that point, I thought we were only going to scare her," said Marvin Cadiz.

Cadiz testified for the prosecution against Puha, who is accused of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted first-degree assault and first-degree hindering prosecution in connection with Tominaga's death.

Tominaga, 37, was reported missing in January 2002, but it was not until three months later that her remains were uncovered in a grave above Makakilo.

A few days before Tominaga was killed, Cadiz said he, Puha and six other men, including alleged drug dealer Jason Perry, were at a Halekauwila Street nightclub when Perry indicated he wanted to kill Tominaga and a man.

Prosecutors said Tominaga told a friend that Perry, who supplied her with drugs, made unwanted sexual advances and exposed himself to her.

On Jan. 18, 2002, Tominaga invited Perry to come to her Kapahulu home, and a friend pointed a shotgun at him and warned him not to pursue Tominaga, prosecutors said. The two took about $300 worth of crystal methamphetamine from Perry, prosecutors said.

Perry has been charged with second-degree murder.

Cadiz, 24, said Puha had called him the morning of Jan. 21, 2002, saying Tominaga had been located, and invited him to come along. They met Perry, Tominaga and five other men at the remote Makakilo property.

Cadiz, who said he did not witness the whole attack, said the men beat Tominaga. After a while, Cadiz said, "I was thinking she was really gonna die."

He admitted to kicking Tominaga once in the stomach "pretty hard" and that he did not say or do anything to stop the beating because he did not want the others to turn on him.

Cadiz said Perry released his hold on Tominaga's neck. Cadiz said he saw Tominaga jerk as if taking a final breath before she became motionless.

Cadiz has pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree assault for kicking Tominaga and first-degree hindering prosecution for helping dispose of her body. In return for his cooperation, prosecutors are expected to ask that Cadiz be sentenced to probation.