Girl’s alleged killer
described as ‘peaceful’Christopher Aki is gentle and
respectful, say those close to him
Relatives and co-workers of accused murderer Christopher Aki testified in Circuit Court yesterday that he was a "peaceful" person not prone to violence.
Aki, 21, is on trial for second-degree murder in the death of 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal, the younger half-sister of his former girlfriend. He is accused of beating Indreginal to death with a pipe at the Keaiwa Heiau State Park in December 2002 while under the influence of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice."
Although he told others he had used ice in the past, those close to him described him as well-behaved, respectful, gentle and dependable.
Gary Aki, an uncle who was like a father figure to Aki, described him as "a skinny, little scrawny kid" who was more into video games than sports.
"He's a very peaceful person, not violent whatsoever," said Kinohi Aki, a cousin who said Christopher Aki was like "a brother."
The two had worked together in construction at one time, but Christopher was ill-suited for the job, the cousin said. "He's not physically built for construction."
Aki confessed to Indreginal's killing to police two days after the girl's body was found.
Jurors listened yesterday to a 75-minute statement by Aki tape-recorded on Dec. 15, 2002, in which he and police Detective Kenneth Higa reconstructed his whereabouts and actions on the day the girl disappeared.
Aki admitted he picked up Indreginal about 3 p.m. Dec. 10, 2002, in his car at the Halawa Housing complex where she lived and drove her to the Aiea park. He described how he punched her out cold after she allegedly slapped him for accidentally spitting on her. He detailed how he hit her over and over again with a pipe in the head, face and lower back, and left her there.
He said he tossed the pipe into Halawa Stream and Indreginal's backpack in a trash bin at an apartment building near where he lived, after removing the six or seven gold Hawaiian bracelets inside. It took him an hour from the time he picked up the girl in Halawa before he arrived home in Kalihi Valley.
The defense contends Aki falsely confessed to the crime because he had been threatened by the girl's uncle, Dennis Cacatian.
Aki contends Cacatian, who has not been charged in the girl's death, is the real killer.
Aki is expected to testify today.