Man is charged in fight at funeral

By Leila Fujimori / lfujimori@starbulletin.com

Authorities charged a 28-year-old Kapalama man Wednesday with assaulting numerous people at the home of a Waianae family holding a funeral service for their son, a police affidavit revealed.

Among the assault victims were the grieving father, who was struck and fell unconscious, and his pregnant daughter, whose baby was born with a dislocated hip.

Eugene Kostron was charged with second-degree assault for a fight that erupted in a Waianae neighborhood. Bail was set at $50,000.

The fight, primarily between two families at 85-1306 Kaneilio St., resulted in numerous attacks against several people.

Witnesses said Kostron was drinking beer outside a home before walking across the street to the home of the family holding a service for their deceased son. There, he allegedly told a guest, "You got a problem?" and hit him in the face, the police affidavit said.

A witness also saw Kostron allegedly hit the grieving 60-year-old father in the face with a beer bottle, causing him to fall and hit the back of his head on the concrete driveway. Bleeding from the mouth, he lost consciousness, police said.

His wife told police Kostron also kicked her husband in the head as he lay unconscious.

Kostron allegedly punched the man's daughter, 21, who was six months pregnant, in the stomach. She gave birth June 4 to a baby whose hips were dislocated and who had to remain in a body cast for three months, police said. Police said it could not be proved whether the baby's condition resulted from the assault.

Kostron also allegedly punched a man who was trying to protect the pregnant woman, and allegedly stomped on another guest's foot, fracturing it.

Witnesses reported Kostron wore a black mouthpiece similar to what boxers wear, suggesting aggressive intent, police said.

Another guest reported Kostron staring and smiling at him, then later coming over and assaulting him, then being mobbed by several other males.

Kostron was joined in the fight by two brothers, including Lopaka Ceno, 25, who was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree assault. His bail was set at $11,000.

Kostron turned himself in to police Tuesday morning and was arrested.



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