Kaneohe Marine guilty in murder of lover's spouse

AMITE, La. » A state jury has convicted a Kaneohe Marine absent without leave of second-degree murder in the sex-triangle slaying of his lover's husband.

After deliberating for just over an hour Thursday, the jury returned the guilty verdict against Pfc. Aubrey Sikes of Kentwood, La., in the death of Christopher Slater Brown, 28, on April 10, 2008. He is assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment, stationed at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe.

Sikes, 20, waived a sentencing delay, and District Judge Bruce C. Bennett sentenced him to life in prison, the mandatory sentence under state law. Sikes entered a notice of appeal.

In closing arguments, prosecutors told the jury Sikes flew from Hawaii to Louisiana specifically to kill Slater Brown because Brown stood in the way of what Sikes wanted: Slater Brown's wife, Brooklyn Brown.

Body of missing visitor is found

Body Of Missing Japanese Tourist Found

 

Police and fire rescue crews found the body of a missing Japanese tourist, and the medical examiner's office has identified the man as 29-year old Yoichiro Yamada.

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An extensive search for a missing Japanese tourist was called off yesterday after the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that a body found near the Hilton Hawaiian Village early yesterday morning is that of Yoichiro Yamada, 29.

Fire Department Capt. Earle Kealoha said that the fire company responded to a drowning incident at 1651 Ala Moana Blvd. — also known as Kaisers — around 11:45 p.m. Saturday, when a 60-year-old man found a body floating about 20 yards offshore from a Hilton pier used by Atlantis Submarines to shuttle customers to their tours.

Police personnel were able to get the body out of the water before Fire Department responders arrived. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yamada was last seen by his relatives swimming in front of the hotel early Friday morning. Yamada's family reported him missing later that evening when he failed to return to his hotel room.

Since then the Coast Guard and the Fire Department conducted air and water searches stretching from Kalaeloa to Diamond Head.

Check of stalled car reveals thefts

Police responding to a stalled car in Mililani Mauka yesterday morning captured a suspected car thief whose crime spree is believed to have extended from Kaneohe to Mililani.

The stalled car, driven by a 32-year-old man with no local address, was discovered to have been stolen in Kaneohe on Aug. 4 and had fraudulent plates.

Police responders also received reports that there had been several car break-ins in Mililani Mauka, and brought several of the owners to the stalled car, who identified some of the stolen items in the back seat. Upon his arrest, the man was also found to have items belonging to another person.

The car and all the stolen items were later taken to the Wahiawa Police Station.

The man was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, second-degree theft, unauthorized possession of confidential or personal information, and fraudulent plates.

Police warn of yet another mail scam

Big Island police are warning the public about a mail scam.

A Hilo man received a letter purportedly from a company in the United Kingdom, saying it is looking for heirs to transfer $15.5 million.

The letter asks the recipient to provide a bank account and to correspond by fax and to buy a fax machine if he did not have one, police said.

Police warn this is but one of a number of variations on the same scam designed to get people to give out their bank account number.

Police advise not to respond to suspicious letters, especially if they request personal or financial information.

Because a number of scams originate in foreign countries, recovery of stolen money is unlikely, police said.

Rescuers forced to leave dog behind

Fire rescue crews were expected to resume the search this morning for a dog that fell off Wiliwilinui Trail above Waialae Iki while hiking with its owner yesterday afternoon.

Firefighters raced against the setting sun to reach the injured animal but had to give up after darkness fell even though they could hear barking.

The dog's owner apparently was not hurt and was escorted off the trail by rescue crews.