Co-defendant in assault case
dies while awaiting trial

A Nanakuli man has died while awaiting trial in an assault case stemming from a turf war between factions vying to provide security at underground gambling operations.

Solomona Nakagawa, 30, was pronounced dead Tuesday by paramedics who responded to a call at his home shortly after 8 p.m.

The Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on Nakagawa the following day, but the cause of his death has been deferred.

Nakagawa and co-defendant Robert Kaialau, 35, were out on bail awaiting trial next month in connection with a July 30, 2003, assault at an illegal game room. Police said it stemmed from a turf war between factions providing security at illegal gambling operations.

Police said yesterday it appears Nakagawa might have died of natural causes, and they do not suspect foul play but are awaiting results of the autopsy.

Nakagawa's attorney, Michael Healy, could not be reached for comment.

Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima said he had not been officially notified of Nakagawa's death. But it would not prevent the trial from going forward since the co-defendants are charged in separate counts, he said.

Police allege Nakagawa and Kaialau showed up at a Young Street gambling house wearing T-shirts with "HPD" and "POLICE" stenciled on the front and back and severely beat two men who had been hired as security guards for the gambling operation. The shirts resembled those worn by police conducting raids.

Nakagawa, at the time a bouncer at Pipeline Cafe, was accused of beating Raymond Gomes Jr. with a bat, chair and teapot and stabbing him several times with a knife. Kaialau was charged with assaulting Tinoimalo Sao with a bat, chair and microwave oven.

Sao is also the surviving victim in the daylight shooting at the Pali Golf Course in January 2004 that killed his brother Romelius Corpuz Jr. and Corpuz's brother-in-law, Lepo Utu Taliese. Police say that shooting also stemmed from the turf war.

Tashima said he was recently notified that the defense was seeking to postpone the May trial date.

The trial, which has been postponed multiple times, was last continued in early March at the request of the defense. Rick Sing, attorney for Kaialau, told the court he had learned a federal grand jury is investigating matters that could involve the complaining witnesses and might shed light on their bias and motive. He said an ongoing state investigation into the complaining witnesses is also pending.

Nakagawa and Kaialau had notified the court earlier that they intend to rely on an alibi defense. Nakagawa claimed he was with three other men at the Dole Cannery movie theaters at the time the Young Street assault took place.

Also yesterday, a judge assigned to the Pali Golf Course murder trial denied a third request by one of three defendants to be released on bail.

Rodney Joseph, who has been incarcerated since Jan. 7, 2004, and is being held without bail while awaiting trial, had asked the court to set bail in his case and release him to the supervision of a Christian-based men's residential program on Maui.