Big Island murder trial
is postponed until June 6

HILO » The murder trial of a Big Island man accused of killing his 8-year-old daughter has been postponed again.

Douglas Fathke, 45, of Kau, was scheduled to go on trial Nov. 22, but his attorney asked for a postponement and the state did not object. Circuit Judge Glenn Hara set a new trial date of June 6. The trial originally had been scheduled for last March 1.

Fathke is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of his daughter, Kelsie, on Easter Sunday 2003. Her body was found in a bedroom at a Naalehu bed-and-breakfast owned by her grandmother.

Fathke also is charged with attempted murder and terroristic threatening for allegedly choking a 16-year-old boy after the girl was shot.

He is being held without bail at Oahu Community Correctional Center.