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Man says fear
led to confession
He says he was scared his
marijuana farm would be found
A Kahuku man says the fear that his marijuana-growing operation would be discovered led him to falsely confess to shooting his friend.
Colonel Robert Taylor is accused of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Jesus Camacho, 52, in the chest on July 8, 2003, at the Sky Ranch off Kamehameha Highway in Laie.
Taylor, who is representing himself, told a Circuit Court jury during opening statements yesterday that he found Camacho shot in the chest and writhing in pain on the road leading up to the ranch. He said others were responsible for shooting his friend.
He did not name the individuals, but said they were the same ones who had robbed and beat him nearly to death. He said Camacho had been shot with the same gun that Camacho carried in his waistband everywhere he went. The gun was lying 20 feet away from where he found Camacho, he said.
But Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter said Taylor arrived at Kahuku Hospital with the still-conscious Camacho and told staff there that his friend had been shot. Taylor told an arriving officer that he had shot his friend, Van Marter said. "I was drinking, we were drunk," he allegedly told officer Elario Tehada.
Taylor said he had been showing Camacho the different loads in a .38 revolver when he flicked the chamber to close it and it went off, striking Camacho, Tehada testified yesterday.
Police recovered what appeared to be the murder weapon on the dashboard of the truck that Taylor had driven to the hospital. Camacho later died at Queen's Hospital.
Van Marter said police went to investigate the scene of the shooting at a barn on the ranch. They uncovered a "full-blown commercial marijuana operation" in and behind the barn, he said. About 3,000 marijuana plants were uncovered at the property.
Also found were an arsenal of firearms -- shotguns, rifles, handguns -- all loaded.
In a 26-page written statement to police, Taylor changed his story and denied shooting Camacho, Van Marter said. Taylor alleged Tehada made up the story about the accidental shooting and that police were out to frame him.
Taylor said yesterday that he lied to police partly out of fear that his marijuana operation would be uncovered.
Born in Mexico, Camacho came to the United States to work. He made his way to Hawaii, where he worked for the Dole Plantation, then later the Gunstock Ranch in Kahuku as a ranch hand and laborer. It was during his employment there that he apparently met Taylor, who later employed Camacho.
Taylor said Camacho worked all his life, saving up to see his family in California and Mexico, but the most he ever made was $5 an hour.
The trial continues Thursday before Circuit Judge Michael Wilson and is expected to conclude early next week.
