Three doctors have ruled Howard I. Giddens, 27, is competent to stand trial in the murder last year of his Hanama’ulu neighbor, Colan Fernandes. Giddens is charged with second-degree murder. His trial is set for June 18. Authorities say Giddens
Three doctors have ruled Howard I. Giddens, 27, is competent to stand trial in the murder last year of his Hanama’ulu neighbor, Colan Fernandes.
Giddens is charged with second-degree murder. His trial is set for June 18.
Authorities say Giddens fatally shot the 43-year-old Fernandes with a long rifle and wounded another man earlier the same day at Hanama’ulu Beach Park.
The doctors agreed that Giddens understands the charges against him. But Kaua’i Fifth Circuit Court Judge Clifford Nakea noted that doesn’t rule out a plea of insanity by the defendant.
“The doctors have ruled he is fit to proceed. The standard (to proceed) is the ability to understand the charges against you,” Kaua’i County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Soong explained.
But Soong said the doctors’ opinion wouldn’t rule out an insanity plea by Giddens and his attorney, public defender James Itamura.
The two issues of competence and sanity “are completely separate” legally, Soong noted.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
