LIHUE — Louis Landsman, accused of killing his mother in May while she was working at First Hawaiian Bank, was declared fit to proceed to trial Tuesday.
LIHUE — Louis Landsman, accused of killing his mother in May while she was working at First Hawaiian Bank, was declared fit to proceed to trial Tuesday.
In a quick appearance before Judge Randall Valenciano, the date for trial was set for Feb. 4.
Landsman appeared with criminal defense attorney Melinda Mendes, who in June requested an examination for fitness and capacity — what’s known as a Hawaii Revised Statues 704 examination “with respect to physical or mental disease, disorder or defect excluding fitness to proceed” according to the statute.
Three experts, Gerald McKenna, Dianne Gerard and Brenda Bauer-Smith, were consulted on Landsman’s fitness and capacity and the court received opinions from all of them.
“All agree, Mr. Landsman is fit to proceed,” Valenciano said. “The disagreement on impairment is the issue.”
HRS Section 704 addresses issue of the defendant’s “capacity to have a particular state of mind which is necessary to establish an element of the offense charged.”
Police say 49-year old Landsman, of Moloa’a, entered the First Hawaiian Bank Lihue Branch on May 17 and used a large hunting-style knife to stab his mother, Charlene Landsman, while she was working.
He was arrested in the bank parking lot and bail was set at $1 million. Landsman entered a not guilty pea to a charge of murder in the second degree on June 7 in the Fifth District Court.