Teen on trial recalls
actions by homeownerShooting suspect Miti Maugaotega
says he was forced to fire
A teen accused of shooting a Punchbowl resident during a botched burglary says he fired because the homeowner was coming after him.
"He started rushing me," Miti Maugaotega testified in his defense yesterday in Circuit Court.
When Maugaotega's trial opened Friday, deputy public defender Walter Rodby did not specify why his client shot Eric Kawamoto other than saying the homeowner forced him to shoot. Maugaotega made at least two statements to police to that effect.
Maugaotega, 18, is on trial for second-degree attempted murder for shooting Kawamoto, 44, in the chest June 26 when the resident came home from work. He is also charged with burglary, robbery and drug and firearm offenses.
Yesterday, Maugaotega's face showed no expression during his testimony, and the audience had to strain to hear his soft voice. He answered mostly in monosyllables and incomplete sentences as he described the events that led him to the Kawamoto home and his subsequent capture.
Earlier that day, Maugaotega said, he left his girlfriend's home in Lanakila to go walking after the couple argued. Tucked in his waistband was a Colt .45 semiautomatic to protect himself "from some Kalihi people."
He said he walked on School Street to the Punchbowl area and past the Kawamoto residence. He chose the Puowaina Drive address because no one appeared to be home.
Maugaotega said he entered through a bedroom window and searched the home for spending money. He said he needed money for a hotel room because he did not plan on returning to his girlfriend's home that night.
When Kawamoto arrived home, Maugaotega said he held up the resident at gunpoint and took his money, then asked for more before telling him to go downstairs. He said he wanted Kawamoto at the lowest level of the home "so I can get away."
Kawamoto began descending the steps but changed his mind and started coming back up, Maugaotega testified. Kawamoto told him that if he went downstairs, he would still shoot him.
"I said, 'What you talking about?'" He then ordered Kawamoto again to go downstairs while pointing the gun at him.
"He started coming at me, telling me shoot him," Maugaotega testified. "I told him, 'Why you coming close?' He kept coming. Then I pulled the trigger but I wasn't ready to fire."
Kawamoto testified earlier that the burglar pulled the trigger but there was only a click. He said he moved toward Maugaotega, thinking he might be able to overpower him. But the burglar slid a round into the chamber and fired again, this time hitting Kawamoto in the chest.
When asked how he felt about what happened, he said, "I feel sorry. ... I feel sorry for what happened."
During questioning by city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, Maugaotega did not dispute that he broke into the Kawamoto home and stole valuables even though he knew it was wrong. He agreed he did not have a license to carry a gun, that it was not in a closed container as required by law and that he knew it was loaded with four or five bullets.
He said the safety on the gun was on when he entered the home, and he took it off only after it failed to fire the first time.
Maugaotega said Kawamoto was 10 feet away when he first pulled the trigger. "He's running at me," he said. He said Kawamoto was about five feet away when the bullet hit him in the chest.
Closing statements are expected tomorrow. Attempted murder is punishable by life in prison with parole.
