LIHUE — Family and friends of the late Amby Cruz, an 88-year-old Omao man found shot to death on New Year’s Day, were at 5th Circuit Court Tuesday for the suspect’s arraignment. Anthony Cruz said family and friends of his
LIHUE — Family and friends of the late Amby Cruz, an 88-year-old Omao man found shot to death on New Year’s Day, were at 5th Circuit Court Tuesday for the suspect’s arraignment.
Anthony Cruz said family and friends of his late father are still in shock after funeral services were held over the weekend. Their father is now with the Lord and their mother, he said.
“We are here today to see what the outcome is for his trial date and his plea so that we can move forward with justice for my dad,” Cruz said, standing with his family wearing T-shirts with the name of his late father on it. “We have friends and family here to support, and everyone is trying to stay strong and get through this.”
The suspect, Giovanni Lictawa Corpuz, 41, of Koloa, was in court to conclude his arraignment after a hearing on Thursday was continued to ensure that Ilocano speaking interpreter Danilo Abadilla could be present. Corpuz is a native of the Philippines.
Chief Judge Randal Valenciano set Corpuz’s trial date for April 21. Corpuz is awaiting a bail study and is being held without bail.
Corpuz was returned to Kauai on a bench warrant for the murder charge. He was reportedly en route to the Philippines when authorities at the Taipei, Taiwan airport detained him for extradition while changing planes on Jan. 10.
Corpuz left Kauai as police were investigating the death of 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.
A grand jury indictment Jan. 15 charged Corpuz with second-degree murder and carrying or using a firearm in the commission of a separate felony. If convicted, Corpuz faces two possible extended sentencing possibilities for inflicting serious injury on a person aged 60 or older, and for multiple felonies in the same case.
Anthony Cruz said his father lived a good, long life but to be taken from the world in the way he was breaks the family’s heart.
“For him, family was first and he would have given the shirt off his back to anyone he came in contact with,” Cruz said.
County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Melinda Mendes represented the state for the purpose of the continued arraignment. She said that First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Takata would be handling the case from now on. State Deputy Public Defender John Calma represented Corpuz.
• Tom LaVenture, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or by emailing tlaventure@thegardenisland.com.
