StarBulletin.com

Woman dies nearly 2 weeks after beating in Waialae Nui


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POSTED: Thursday, February 04, 2010

Police have initiated a second-degree murder case in connection with a home invasion robbery and beating that left a Waialae Nui woman with fatal injuries.

Mary Lee Koskinen, 85, died at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Queen's Medical Center.

According to the Department of the Medical Examiner, Koskinen died from “;intracranial injury due to assaultive blunt force trauma to the head.”; The manner of her death was classified as a homicide.

Zachary Robinson, 19, and Cody Mikami, 21, were charged with first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder and first-degree robbery. Robinson is being held in lieu of $1 million bail and Mikami is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case as charges are likely to be changed to second-degree murder from second-degree attempted murder.

During the early-morning hours of Jan. 21, Koskinen and her caregiver, Matthew Edmondson, were assaulted inside her house at 1451 Halekoa Drive. Police found Koskinen on her back in extreme pain and Edmondson in the living room with his face covered in blood.

A tire iron and a brick also covered with blood were found next to him. Edmondson, 40, remains in the hospital after he suffered two black eyes and multiple cuts on his face.

Edmondson's mother, J.L. Edmondson, and her husband were at the Waialae Nui home yesterday. Edmondson's mother said they plan to bring their son home to Southern California when he is capable of traveling.

“;He's recovering, but he'll never be the same,”; she said.

Edmondson, who has a photography business called Capture Hawaii, cared for Koskinen for 12 years and traveled with her extensively.

Both moved to Hawaii from Southern California 10 years ago. Edmondson's mother recalled how Koskinen joined them twice in Bakersfield to celebrate Christmas in years past.

“;We considered her a part of our family and definitely a friend,”; she said.

J.L. Edmondson further described Koskinen as a strong woman, contradicting neighbors who described her as frail.

According to Edmondson's mother, Koskinen has siblings in Southern California. They could not be reached for comment.