Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
[Taking Notice]
>> The YWCA of Oahu has received two grants for its Fernhurst Transitional Residence for Women in Makiki. The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation donated $3,000 toward the renovation of the residence, which helps women and their children made homeless due to domestic violence or financial hardship.The Ganote Investment Family Trust awarded $2,000 toward a special fund to assist the residents. The Hawaii Hotel Association also donated $5,000 from its Visitor Industry Charity Walk to Dress for Success, Honolulu, a Y program providing career attire and emotional support for women in transition.
>> American Savings Bank has presented a $51,000 grant to the SEED Project for education and training for start-up companies and existing businesses with fewer than five employees to survive and thrive on the Big Island. In addition, loans of up to $35,000 are available. The project is a collaborative effort of the Pacific Gateway Center, American Savings and the Hawaii County Resource Center.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWINDWARD OAHU
More chemicals found at Kailua home
Honolulu police said the discovery of more hazardous chemicals has again delayed a search of a burned Kailua home.Hazardous waste crews were sent back to 1214 Kainui Drive, where 20-year-old Micah White allegedly stabbed his mother, Kerry, and his aunt, then doused them with a flammable liquid and set them on fire Monday. The house was filled with chemicals, which caused hazardous fumes, because White's father is part owner of a swimming pool business.
Detectives were able to enter the home yesterday and recover several items that could have been used in the stabbings -- including a metal sword -- but the discovery of more chemicals forced them to leave the scene.
White turned himself in to police on Tuesday and was arrested on two counts of attempted murder and one count of criminal property damage. He had not been charged as of yesterday.
Investigators also said the conditions of his mother and aunt are unchanged, though they have been stabilized. One victim had been reported in critical condition, while the other was in serious condition.
Police did not say which victim was in which condition.
WAIKIKI
Pedestrian hit by van dies of her injuries
An 84-year-old woman died at the Queen's Medical Center Tuesday night from injuries she suffered after being struck by a van in Waikiki on Monday.The Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim as Gladys Van Rijsbergen, of Honolulu.
Woman bites man who tries to kidnap her
Police arrested a 20-year-old man Tuesday after he allegedly used a knife in an attempt to kidnap a woman in Waikiki.Police said a 31-year-old woman was jogging at Kapiolani Park about 8:43 p.m. when the suspect grabbed her from behind, put a knife to her neck and threatened her.
Police said the victim bit the suspect's hand and screamed. Police said a nearby officer saw the attack.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and first-degree terroristic threatening.
LEEWARD OAHU
Baby taken to hospital may have been abused
Police are investigating the assault of a 3-month-old Waipahu girl.Police said a 22-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman brought their baby to Kapiolani Medical Center sometime before 10:30 p.m. Tuesday after she had a seizure and was unresponsive.
Police said tests results showed that the infant suffered from shaken baby syndrome.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
3 Big Isle drug busts result in 4 arrests
HILO >> Big Island police said yesterday they have arrested four people in three drug busts since Friday.On Friday, police arrested Raymon Yagong-Weber, 31, in Hilo and charged him with possession of crystal methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Police also seized $120 from him.
On Monday, police arrested and charged Bert Flores, 44, at a Wainaku Street home near the Friday arrest site. Flores was charged with possession of crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Police confiscated $1,245 from him.
On Tuesday police arrested a man, 44, and a woman, 24, at a house in Hawaiian Beaches, south of Hilo. Crystal methamphetamine and paraphernalia were also found there. Police also seized $600. The two were being held pending charges.
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[The Courts]
New trial ordered for suspect in killing
The Hawaii Supreme Court has reversed the conviction and ordered a new trial for a homeless man found guilty of killing another homeless man over a bottle of vodka.The high court found "irrelevant and prejudicial" yesterday evidence that William McCrory did not proclaim his innocence to another inmate while awaiting trial and made statements saying he hoped the charges would be reduced.
McCrory was convicted of the October 2001 killing in Kauai Circuit Court.
Brent "Kerby" Kerr was stabbed to death outside the van in which he lived near Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai. Police and prosecutors maintained the two had argued over a bottle of vodka that Kerr allegedly had shoplifted and refused to share.
An eyewitness testified that he helped McCrory load Kerr's body into McCrory's truck and that they intended to hide the body. They were forced to abandon the body on the roadside in front of the closed Coco Palms Resort when they ran out of gas.
McCrory is serving a life term with the possibility of parole.
Man gets 16 months for breaking into car
A homeless Big Island man suspected of 25 car burglaries in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park last summer has been sentenced to 16 months in federal prison on one count of unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle.After Robert K. Souza, 22, was charged last July, the burglaries stopped, according to the National Park Service.
At sentencing Monday, U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor ordered Souza to serve three years on supervised release after imprisonment and to remain away from the park during that time.
Fraud nets 2-year term for Honolulu man
A federal judge sentenced a Honolulu man to two years in prison this week for his role in a Nigerian bank fraud scheme.Prosecutors said Yoshiki Fujimoto, 67, was contacted in 2002 by a Nigerian who offered a large sum of money to him and put him in touch with a third person, known only as Robert V.M. After corresponding with Robert V.M. Fujimoto received a fraudulent $245,000 check payable to him from a bank in New York.
Prosecutors said that after receiving the check, Fujimoto attempted on July 19 to deposit it into his Territorial Savings Bank account but was told by bank officials that it was fake. However, even after receiving this warning, Fujimoto opened a new savings account at City Bank in Honolulu and deposited the check. Fujimoto then wired the money from the City Bank account to accounts in New York and Indonesia, resulting in a loss to the bank.
Fujimoto pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in federal court.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
