LIHU‘E — A jury found Vicente Kotekapika Hilario guilty of first degree murder and three other charges Friday in 5th Circuit Court. The court convened at approximately 2:40 p.m. The jury foreman presented the verdict to Chief Judge Randal Valenciano.
LIHU‘E — A jury found Vicente Kotekapika Hilario guilty of first degree murder and three other charges Friday in 5th Circuit Court.
The court convened at approximately 2:40 p.m. The jury foreman presented the verdict to Chief Judge Randal Valenciano.
Hilario, 26, of Anahola, was found guilty of the first degree murder of 34-year-old Aureo Eric Moore at Anahola Beach Park on Dec. 17, 2010. He was also found guilty of retaliating against a witness, intimidating a witness and bribery of a witness.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Hilario shot Moore six times in order to prevent him from testifying against Kyle Akau, a friend of Hilario’s, concerning the August 21, 2010, Kapa‘a Safeway parking lot armed robbery.
The jury had the option of finding Hilario guilty of second degree murder in the alternative.
Hilario’s grandmother, Lorraine Rapozo, gasped as the verdict was read. He faces a maximum possible sentence of life in prison without parole.
The “team effort” was crucial in the verdict, said County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar. He said much of the credit goes to Deputy Prosecutors Melinda Mendes and Ramsey Ross, along with Kaua‘i Police Department investigators.
“I am so phenomenally proud of them,” Kollar said. “They made a powerful statement about the law and justice on Kaua‘i.”
Mendes and Ross thanked the work of the police department, along with the cooperation and patience of the Moore family throughout the process. The father of Moore was present at every trial hearing but left court Friday without making a comment.
The court granted a no-bail request from Mendes until the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for June 13. He had been held on $2 million bail.
“I disagree with it, and I am disappointed in it,” said court-appointed defense attorney Keith Shigetomi of the verdict. “There was a lot of evidence to doubt the immunized testimony of the key witnesses.”
Shigetomi said there were serious questions as to the way the investigation was conducted.
“This closes the first chapter,” he said. “There are chapters to come.”
Shigetomi requested that the court issue an interrogatory to the jury as to count one, first-degree murder. The jury, for the record, declared that each member believed that the defendant did plan to use a firearm in the commission of the crime, and that he carried out the shooting.
The prosecutors said the jury made a significant sacrifice that started before the month-long trial. The three-week jury selection process began on Jan. 7, and the 12 jurors and four alternates were selected from more than 300 people.
Police Chief Darryl Perry said the verdict is a time to thank everyone involved who contributed to the successful prosecution of this case. He offered condolences to the Moore family for their loss, and also to the Hilario family, which he said also has suffered greatly.
“While there is a sense of relief in the verdict, the fact remains that we cannot bring Aureo back,” Perry said. “We can, however, find solace that the responsible person, who so callously took his life, was finally brought to justice.”
Hilario listened to the verdict and after the hearing turned to hug family members. They waited to talk with him and his attorney, but had no comment for the press.
The murder of Moore occurred as he was waiting at an Anahola Beach Park lookout area for a mutual friend of Hilario’s to return with illegally purchased prescription pain medication.
He was ambushed and shot three times in the back and neck as he tried to flee from shooter, and succumbed three hours later from two more shots to his head, according to testimony from a forensic pathologist. The sixth shot grazed his body.
Hilario had testified that his friend David Manaku shot Moore without his knowledge or consent. Manaku testified with immunity that he witnessed Hilario shoot Moore, but did not know of the plan.
With the conclusion of the murder trial, Hilario will face two other cases in 5th Circuit Court. He has a detrimental drug case involving marijuana set for July and a firearms case that is set for April.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
