Suspect pleads not
guilty to stabbing baby

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii >> A Big Island man who allegedly stabbed his 5-month-old baby boy Friday pleaded not guilty in Kona District Court yesterday to second-degree attempted murder.

A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 18 for Jerry Francis Liquie, 26, of Holualoa, North Kona. He remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Police said earlier that the child was in stable condition after being treated at Kapiolani Medical Center on Oahu. Child Welfare Services has assumed custody of the baby.

Detective Brandon Konanui said the wound pierced the boy's colon, but he had no further information on how the injury was inflicted. Liquie declined to make a statement, he said.

Authorities became aware of the case when they received a 911 call from the child's home, he said. Liquie lives there with the baby's mother but is not married to her, Konanui said. They have no other children.

Konanui did not have information on who made the emergency call. Liquie was arrested at 12:45 p.m. Friday at the home.

The couple have no record of domestic violence, and Liquie has no criminal history, Konanui said.

Liquie is originally from Korea and moved here when he was 17, Konanui said.