HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Supreme Court Friday issued a ruling upholding the conviction of Koma Texeira Jr., for murder in the second degree, for the Oct. 31, 2016, execution-style shooting of Jon Togioka near Salt Pond Beach Park in Hanapepe.
HONOLULU — The Hawai‘i Supreme Court Friday issued a ruling upholding the conviction of Koma Texeira Jr., for murder in the second degree, for the Oct. 31, 2016, execution-style shooting of Jon Togioka near Salt Pond Beach Park in Hanapepe.
In a 67-page opinion penned by Justice Richard Pollack, the court affirmed Texeira’s conviction, ruling that DNA evidence linking Texeira to the crime scene was properly admitted and that any errors that occurred during the trial were harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Texeira was convicted by a Fifth Circuit Court jury in March of 2018 following a trial before the Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano, and sentenced to life in prison in July of 2018.
The case was prosecuted at trial by First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer S. Winn and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sean Van Demark. The appeal was litigated by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tracy J. Murakami. Christopher Calio of the Kaua‘i Police Department was the lead detective on the case.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated: “We are grateful for the Supreme Court’s thorough review of the evidence and trial record, and we are thankful they reached a just result. We hope this ruling can bring another milestone of closure to Jon Togioka’s ‘ohana, who have remained in our thoughts throughout this process. We also thank detective Calio and all the hardworking investigators and criminalists who helped make this prosecution successful. Without them we would not be able to do the work we do.”
