LIHUE — The man charged with the stabbing death of his mother in May appeared in Fifth Circuit Court Tuesday.
Louis Landsman, 34, appeared subdued as he stood next to his attorney Melinda Mendez to hear the results of a three-panel examination to determine capacity and fitness to proceed with a trial. Barring the need for one more interview, the proceedings were continued.
“Good morning your honor. We have reports from two of the doctors, the third, which is the court designate, he has not seen my client yet,” Mendes said.
Because the interview had not occurred, Chief Judge Randall Valenciano continued the hearing to Sept. 25.
Mendes said she was going to file a separate motion because despite repeated requests, the state has yet to give her information and evidence in the case.
“I’ve multiple times asked them for body cam videos and videos of surveillance,” Mendes said.
At a June proceeding, Landsman dropped to the ground, kneeling, with his hands clutched behind his neck.
“Why, why, why is this happening, why?” Landsman yelled as Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar and Mendes returned to their counsel tables.
Landsman was removed from the courtroom, taken back to the courthouse holding cell without incident.
This action prompted Mendes to request to request a three-panel examination to determine fitness and capacity to stand trial. Kollar did not object.
Police allege Landsman walked into First Hawaiian Bank about 1:15 May 17, approached his mother, Charlene Landsman, 68, of Kappa, stabbed her and then fled on foot.
The victim was transported to Wilcox Medical Center in critical condition, where she was later pronounced dead.
During a preliminary hearing, witnesses testified Landsman had been in the bank twice talking to his mother, prior to the stabbing.
After he left the bank the first time, the witness said Charlene Landsman asked her co-workers to call the police if her son came back into the building. He came back, the co-worker asked her supervisor to call the police, but Charlene Landsman canceled the call.
Witnesses testified that Louis Landsman came in a third time, stood by the planters, lifted up a long knife and stabbed his mother several times before leaving on foot.
Louis Landsman was apprehended outside the bank and eventually charged with murder in the second degree.
Due to the age of his alleged victim, and the heinously cruel and atrocious crime, Louis Landsman could face the possibility of enhanced sentencing if convicted for this crime.
Louis Landsman remains in custody on $1 million bail.
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Bethany Freudenthal, Crime, courts and county reporter, 652-7891, bfreudenthal@thegardenisland.com
