LIHUE — The suspect accused of killing an 88-year-old Omao man was arraigned in 5th Circuit Court Thursday. Giovani Corpuz, 41, of Omao, was brought into court after returning to Kauai from Taipei, Taiwan, where authorities had detained him while
LIHUE — The suspect accused of killing an 88-year-old Omao man was arraigned in 5th Circuit Court Thursday.
Giovani Corpuz, 41, of Omao, was brought into court after returning to Kauai from Taipei, Taiwan, where authorities had detained him while the suspect was changing flights to his native Philippines on Jan. 10.
Corpuz left Kauai as police were investigating the death of Amby Cruz, who was found dead in his Omao home early New Year’s Day from an apparent gunshot wound to the head, according to police.
County Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Arin represented the state. They presented second-degree murder and firearms charges that were brought against Corpuz through a grand jury indictment.
State Deputy Public Defender Stephanie Sato represented Corpuz. She acknowledged the charges but did not enter a plea on behalf of the defendant.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano allowed the initial appearance for arraignment purposes. However, the entry of plea hearing was continued until Tuesday when an interpreter of the Filipino dialect Ilocano could be present due in part to the severity of the charges.
Corpuz remains held without bail. The issue of a bail study will be heard at the entry of a plea hearing.
Corpuz lived with his family within one block of the victim’s residence, neighbors of the victim and suspect told The Garden Island in previous interviews.
• Kyle Matthew Welch, 27, of Princeville, entered a plea of not guilty of attempted second-degree murder.
Welch is accused of beating a 42-year-old man during an altercation at Anini Beach on Jan. 9. The victim was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital with critical injuries and remains hospitalized.
The Office of the State Public Defender has a conflict in representing Welch and the court appointed private attorney Mark Zenger to represent him the case. A trial date was set for April 21 with bail set at $750,000.
