Source of fatal scuffle
in Waikiki in disputeThe trial of a Japanese national
hinges on fraud vs. self-defense
A Japanese national strangled a Waikiki shopkeeper in a scuffle over a fake money exchange in April 2003, prosecutors say.
Daiki Iba went to Seawind Surf and Street with the intention of defrauding shopkeeper Michiko Sakata, who triggered a silent alarm when she opened the envelope and saw fake yen to be exchanged for U.S. cash, deputy prosecutor Franklin Pacarro Jr. said yesterday.
Waikiki shopkeeper Michiko Sakata was strangled in a scuffle in 2003.
Iba, 35, went on trial in Circuit Court yesterday for second-degree murder in the death of Sakata, 44.
But Iba contends he was defending himself and did not intend to rob or strangle Sakata.
Deputy public defender Ed Harada said Iba had gone to Sakata's shop three days earlier to negotiate the exchange of yen for cash, but both got into a scuffle later when she refused to return an envelope belonging to him that contained fake money.
Iba claims he was only trying to get the envelope back and defuse the situation, but Sakata had been smoking "ice" and attacked him "as though she was possessed and making sounds like a wild animal," said Harada.
Pacarro contends Iba had no money after struggling to start up a wedding tour business.
"He got desperate, he needed money," Pacarro said.
Police officers responding to the alarm arrived to find Iba straddling an unconscious Sakata on the ground. Police found $8,370 cash in his back pocket.
According to Harada, Iba brought fake money with him because of fears he would be robbed. In late 2002, Iba had withdrawn $5,000 from the bank for a trip when he was robbed by two men on a motorcycle. Since then he was leery about carrying large amounts of cash, Harada said.
Although Iba was still waiting on a business associate to deliver 3 million yen, equivalent to about $24,000 at the time, he went to Seawind Surf to negotiate the exchange and brought with him the envelope stuffed with fake money, Harada said.
Iba claims Sakata handed him a wad of cash and opened the envelope. Iba panicked, realizing he could get into trouble for passing fake money, but Sakata refused to give back the envelope and attacked him, Harada said.
Iba tried to fend her off with one hand before stuffing in his pocket the cash she had handed to him so he could better ward off her attack, Harada said.
But Pacarro said Iba was the one who attacked Sakata and that the scratches he suffered on his chest, shoulder and neck are likely from Sakata trying to defend herself.
Sakata suffered bruising, including under her eyes, around her neck, mouth and chest. While Sakata did have methamphetamine in her system, it was a small amount, Pacarro said.
Sakata's husband, who had told Iba the day before that his wife would be working the shop that day, confirmed money was missing from the cash drawer.
If convicted, Iba faces a life term in prison with the possibility of parole.
