LIHU‘E — The trial date for the man accused of a 2006 murder was continued Monday in 5th Circuit Court. Darren Galas, 40, of Kalaheo, offered no objection to the continuance. It was entered on his behalf by private attorney
LIHU‘E — The trial date for the man accused of a 2006 murder was continued Monday in 5th Circuit Court.
Darren Galas, 40, of Kalaheo, offered no objection to the continuance. It was entered on his behalf by private attorney Caren Dennemeyer, who was standing in for attorney Michael Green of Honolulu.
County First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Takata said the two parties filed a stipulation agreement March 5. He said the two sides agreed to continue the initial April 1 trial date with time charged to the defense.
Judge Kathleen Watanabe granted the motion and set a new trial date for Sept. 30.
Galas is accused of killing his estranged wife, Sandra Galas, 27. She was found dead inside of her car that was parked in the garage of her ‘Ele‘ele home on Jan. 25, 2006. An autopsy determined she had been strangled and suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Darren Galas has since remarried, and the case went unsolved. He was indicted on a second-degree murder charge on Oct. 31, 2012.
Galas defendant was granted a reduction in bail from $1 million to $300,000 at a Nov. 13 hearing. He made bail shortly after and remains free on conditional release until the trial.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
