LIHU‘E — The murder case of Joseph Hoapili Sr. might not go to trial if a deal can be reached within the next few weeks. A jury trial before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano was scheduled to begin Monday in
LIHU‘E — The murder case of Joseph Hoapili Sr. might not go to trial if a deal can be reached within the next few weeks.
A jury trial before 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano was scheduled to begin Monday in the state courthouse here, but Deputy Public Defender John Calma said he is hopeful a resolution can be reached without going to trial.
Hoapili, 50, of Lihu‘e, is accused of stabbing his wife to death in early March.
He is being held at Kaua‘i Community Correctional Center in Wailua. County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho has asked for bail to be set at $1 million.
The second-degree murder charge against Joseph Hoapili involves the death of Fredlynn Hoapili, who was 53 years old when she died.
In police reports, the couple’s son told officers he witnessed his father stab his mother in the chest three to four times, and that his father had previously accused his mother of infidelity after getting high on crystal methamphetamine.
Calma told Valenciano he should set a trial date for January if Calma and prosecutors can’t come to terms on conditions of a plea agreement in the next few weeks.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lauren McDowell said she expects the trial to last up to two weeks if the case goes to trial.
Valenciano set a trial date of Jan. 11, at 8 a.m., with a pre-trial conference scheduled for Dec. 17.
Joseph Hoapili Sr., wearing a white T-shirt, orange pants, slippers and leg shackles, stood next to Calma at Monday’s appearance. Several family members were in the gallery.
Valenciano requested four state sheriffs to be present in his courtroom, as family members disrupted earlier proceedings in the Hoapili case.
