LIHU‘E — The defense rested its case in 5th Circuit Court Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of Vicente Kote Kapika Hilario, who testified that he didn’t kill Aureo Moore. Chief Judge Randal Valenciano instructed the jury to be in
LIHU‘E — The defense rested its case in 5th Circuit Court Tuesday in the first-degree murder trial of Vicente Kote Kapika Hilario, who testified that he didn’t kill Aureo Moore.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano instructed the jury to be in the courtroom at 1 p.m. today to hear closing arguments. The jury will then begin deliberations to decide whether the evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt if Hilario, 26, shot Moore, 34, six times at Anahola Beach Park on Dec. 17, 2010. Moore died three hours later.
Hilario completed his testimony on Tuesday, claiming that he was not present when his friend David Manaku shot Moore.
Manaku is the state witness with court immunity who testified that it was Hilario who shot Moore.
Hilario said that in the morning of Dec. 17, he received a call from Angienora “Pua” Crawford, who wanted to buy oxycodone pills from him for Moore. Hilario said he had wanted to meet with Moore and talk to him about “telling the truth” that he had no part in the alleged armed robbery against him near Safeway at Kaua‘i Village Shopping Center on Aug. 21, 2010.
Hilario said he was there to bring a disabled friend to the store and left before the alleged robbery occurred. He was arrested and spent 20 days in jail until the charges were dropped, he said.
“Were you angry about being put in jail?” Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes said.
Hilario said he felt his friend Kyle Akau was wrongfully convicted of second-degree robbery and firearms violations.
“I was depressed afterward,” Hilario said.
Hilario said he wanted Crawford to speak to Moore about a meeting because he didn’t feel he could approach him directly after some heated text message exchanges. After showing one of the texts to Manaku while working together at a restaurant, he said Manaku took the phone and sent a threatening text to Moore.
Asked why he didn’t follow through and meet with Moore after giving Crawford six oxycodone pills, Hilario said the priority was the pills, and that the meeting was secondary.
“I wanted Pua to talk to Aureo to see if he would agree to meet with me,” Hilario said. “I wanted her to speak with him.”
According to Hilario, Crawford said she spoke with Moore, and that he was now facing drug charges of his own and wanted to drop the robbery issue. With this new information, he said it might not have been worth confronting Moore and risk changing his mind about testifying.
Mendes asked Hilario why he would drop Manaku and Jens Kyler Hansen-Loo at the same location prior to Moore arriving at the area.
It was near the beach trail head where they walked to their netting area, he said. He had planned to pick them up with his uncle’s truck on the road, but he was not home, and so went to meet them at the spot, he added.
Mendes said that was quite a distance to expect them to walk. She asked why he didn’t drive them closer.
It was a convenient place since he had to meet Crawford, and his friends could head up the road from there, Hilario said.
After meeting Crawford, Hilario said his cousin’s girlfriend agreed to drop him off on a road nearest where he expected the two friends to be in the Anahola back roads. They were both surprised that the road extended as far as it did after new construction, he added.
Hilario said that after walking through some brush to get to the trails he soon encountered Hansen-Loo and Manaku. He said Manaku hugged him and grabbed his hand, saying he “aced that guy,” referring to Moore.
Hilario said he was “shocked,” “disgusted,” and “weirded out” with the news, and Manaku then jumped in the ocean and washed up. The three then followed trails south until turning back toward Anahola.
When they reached a familiar path that led to the subdivision, Hilario said he asked Hansen-Loo to give Manaku his phone, because his own would not keep a charge. He then told Manaku to stay put.
“We wanted to get away from him because he just killed a guy,” Hilario said.
Mendes asked Hilario why Hilario tried to call Manaku seven times while on the trail. He replied that it was to tell him that he was on his own for what he did.
“Did you want Aureo Moore dead?” Mendes said.
“No,” Hilario said.
“Did you care that he was dead?” Mendes said.
“Yes,” Hilario said.
“Did you order Aureo Moore’s death?” Mendes said.
“No,” Hilario said.
Under questioning from court appointed defense attorney Keith Shigetomi, Hilario said Moore texted him messages calling him a scrub and was also threatening.
Shigetomi asked Hilario if he was arrested at his grandmother’s home or at the crime scene. He replied that he was led to a police car and cuffed before being told he was under arrest.
“Did you shoot Aureo Moore?” Shigetomi said.
“No,” Hilario said.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
