LIHU‘E — Two Kaua‘i men accused of seconddegree murder in separate cases pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday at the Lihu‘e state courthouse. Richard Shannon Costa pleaded not guilty to a seconddegreemurder charge related to the death of 18yearold
LIHU‘E — Two Kaua‘i men accused of seconddegree murder in separate cases pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday at the Lihu‘e state courthouse.
Richard Shannon Costa pleaded not guilty to a seconddegreemurder charge related to the death of 18yearold Hanama‘ulu mother Weslyn Jerves in Fifth Circuit Court yesterday morning. Costa, 36, of Kalaheo, was clean shaven, and appeared to have received a haircut prior to his brief appearance in front of Fifth Circuit Court Judge George M. Masuoka.
His courtappointed attorney William Feldhacker waived reading of the charges and entered the notguilty plea.
A trial date is set for May 9.
A few hours later and down the hall in District Court, David Nicholas Arruda pleaded not guilty to seconddegree murder as well.
Arruda, 25, of Lihu‘e, has been charged in relation to the death of his girlfriend’s 35monthold son last November.
Represented by his lawyer, Mark Zenger, Arruda said nothing in the quick court appearance, which was attended by Arruda’s grandmother and the toddler’s father and grandfather.
According to court documents, Arruda said the toddler, Kaimana Larry DiasDuque, and he were roughhousing and the boy hit his head.
County Prosecuting Attorney Craig De Costa said the child died Nov. 1 of injuries received two days before, while being cared for by Arruda.
Zenger said the injuries weren’t inflicted intentionally, and may have been received during roughhousing.
Arruda was arrested only after the final medicalexaminer reports were completed and the case could be discussed with physicians, De Costa said.
Arruda is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m.
DiasDuque was the son of Jessica Dias and Justin Duque.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 2453681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
