Machete, drugs and alcohol

LIHU‘E — The first day of Carrie Ann Robson’s attempted murder trial played like a YouTube video with a weak Internet connection.

From nearly 10 a.m., when the prosecutor and defense attorney gave their opening arguments, to about 4:15 p.m., when 5th Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano called it a day, the trial repeatedly paused as the lawyers approached the bench and struggled with electronics.

Despite the many pauses on Tuesday, the jury of nine men and six women, including three alternates, were treated to 911 recordings of Patrick Craig — the alleged victim. They also listened to testimony from the first officer on the scene and learned about wrist fractures from an orthopedic surgeon.

Robson, 39, is accused of attacking Patrick Craig with a machete and then with her truck on Dec. 19 following an argument at the Hanalei Pavilion.

She faces charges of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening — the first count stems from the machete, the second from Robson’s truck, said Prosecutor Melinda Mendes.

“First she got mad, then she got even; that’s what the evidence will show,” Mendes said in her opening arguments.

She contended that on the night of Dec. 19, Robson attended a Christmas celebration at the pavilion, where people enjoyed pupus, alcohol and marijuana. Robson, Mendes argued, asked Craig for the adult party favors but was denied. She then left the party and returned with a machete and used it as part of a dance.

Craig asked her to stop, she refused, almost struck him with the blade and he eventually took it away from her, Mendes said.

While he made one of five phone calls to 911 at a nearby phone booth, Mendes said, Robson got in her truck, ran over Craig’s backpack, and somehow caused him to break his left wrist. When later asked to clarify how this occurred and to repeat the statement she made in open court, Mendes said it would be inappropriate to do so.

Defense attorney Christian Enright said Craig had been drinking alcohol that entire day, and had told a detective following the incident that he’d had about 15 beers. He also told the detective that when Robson asked for beer and marijuana, he turned her down because she “never puts out.”

When speaking about the machete, Enright contended, Craig gave conflicting statements — that he’d been hit in the leg, that he missed Robson’s swing, that he’d been scratched.

Mendes called Norma Christian, a Kaua‘i Police Department dispatcher, as her first witness. She played recordings from Craig’s five phone calls, which Christian took at the time of the incident.

On the phone, Craig told Christian that “Some crazy (expletive) tried to chop me up with a machete,” and then told someone else, “Go away, you’re not getting this machete away from me.”

He called repeatedly moments later. On the fourth call for help, he told the dispatcher that his attacker was “Crazy Carrie,” and that people were trying to stop her as she got into her vehicle.

“There are people in the way. She’s trying to back over them. … Get out of the way — it’s not worth getting run over … she’s nuts,” he said during the call.

In the recording of the final 911 call, Craig said his arm had been injured.

“I think I broke my arm, the crazy (expletive) ran me over,” Craig said.

Mendes later called Dr. Lloyd Hubler to the stand. The Kaua‘i Medical Center orthopedic surgeon treated Craig following his injury.

Hubler, who has been practicing for 33 years, testified small bones in Craig’s wrist had been crushed and compressed. Looking at recent x-rays of the wrist, which now shows calcification — a sign of healing — he said it was obvious in December that the man’s injury was fresh.

“Will it ever be back to normal?” Mendes asked.

“No, it won’t,” Hubler replied.

The doctor also noted that such an injury can occur when a lot of pressure is put on a hand toward the elbow past 90 degrees.

When cross-examined by Enright, he said the fracture is one of the most common and often occurs when people brace themselves for a fall.

The day ended with Kaua‘i Police Officer Brian Silva, who took photographs of the scene. Those included images of Craig’s belongings, covered in fresh tire tracks.

Silva later arrested Robson at a home in Kapa‘a. When she saw him, she tried to get away quickly, he said. He added that she appeared to be intoxicated, smelled like alcohol and stumbled. Silva grabbed her arm and told her she was under arrest on a charge of second-degree murder.

“‘For what?’” Silva recalled her saying. “‘The (expletive) homeless guy who stole my machete?’”

The trial resumes at 8:30 a.m. today, with the defense’s cross-examination of Silva. Mendes also expects to call Craig, in addition to law enforcement witnesses.

• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@thegardenisland.com.