Felon indicted over death
in home invasion robbery
A convicted felon who allegedly went on a two-week crime spree in late April and early May 2001 was indicted by an Oahu grand jury yesterday on a second-degree murder charge for allegedly causing a man's death during a home invasion robbery.
Arthur Birano, 31, was also charged yesterday with first-degree robbery and burglary and two gun offenses.
Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter asked the court to set bail at $500,000, based on the seriousness of the charges.
Van Marter alleged that between April 26 and May 4, 2001, Birano confronted Darryl Lee at a Salt Lake home and attacked and shot him with a gun.
Birano also allegedly stole money and property from the home.
Birano has a "substantial" criminal history, Van Marter said. Birano was convicted and sentenced in February to extended life terms on multiple charges, including kidnapping and firearms offenses. He has been convicted previously for first-degree burglary and robbery, second-degree escape and second-degree theft.
Birano was on parole in 2001 when he allegedly went on the two-week crime spree, which included another home invasion, a shooting and a car chase in the Ala Moana area.
He and two other men allegedly went to a Kewalo Street apartment building on May 8, 2001, and accosted a couple at gunpoint, police said. One of the robbers, believed to be Birano, allegedly was seen on a surveillance camera pulling a MAC-11 pistol from his waistband and waving it in the air.
Birano was also charged with a drive-by shooting at Club Pachinko on Kona Street on May 8, 2001, and firing additional shots fronting KHON-TV on Piikoi Street before he crashed a stolen car on Kapiolani Boulevard.