LIHUE — The lead detective described details in a murder investigation of a Lihue man Thursday in District Court. Francisco Keola Manuel, 37, wearing a green jumpsuit and sporting a black goatee, appeared before Judge Trudy Senda during his preliminary
LIHUE — The lead detective described details in a murder investigation of a Lihue man Thursday in District Court.
Francisco Keola Manuel, 37, wearing a green jumpsuit and sporting a black goatee, appeared before Judge Trudy Senda during his preliminary hearing inside a packed courtroom.
He is charged with the murder of Gary Allen Allianic Jr.
The preliminary hearing, which was continued until 1 p.m. Oct. 19, laid out arguments from the state as well as testimony from witnesses.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar asked Kauai Police Department Detective Anthony Morita to describe what he saw upon arriving at the scene of the alleged crime.
Morita said he saw an unresponsive man on the ground in a pool of blood.
“Did you observe many injuries on the body?” Kollar asked Morita.
“Yes,” Morita said.
“What did the blood and injuries indicate to you about the cause of death,” Kollar asked.
“It appears that the male subject was stabbed and slashed,” Morita said.
Kollar reached over and showed Morita exhibit P4, which contained an image of Allianic Jr.’s body.
Morita testified that he identified the body by tattoos, specifically a large last name tattoo across his back.
After completing the crime scene investigation, investigators took Allianic Jr.’s body to Wilcox Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Morita said.
Morita testified that Manuel, when contacted by police, made statements under his own free will after being read his Miranda rights.
Morita testified in his police report that a fight between Allilanic Jr. and Manuel occurred between midnight and 1 a.m. prior to the death.
During cross examination, defense attorney Mark Zenger said phone records and surveillance videos from Rob’s Good Times Grill, where Manuel and another woman were having dinner, will show that Morita’s timeline is inaccurate.
Zenger’s said his tapes can prove that Jasmine Duque — Allianic Jr.’s former girlfriend and Manuel’s current girlfriend who was stabbed in the altercation between the two men — did not match what Morita’s timeline says.
“I cannot actively say that the time on those cameras are the accurate time,” Morita countered Zenger during cross examination.
Zenger said once he can establish a proper timeline, the rest of the case can be built from there.
Zenger detailed Manuel’s night out before meeting with Duque. He said Manuel spent the night at the movies with another woman until 12:30 a.m. Sept 25 before heading over to the Garden Island Barbecue.
He said Allianic Jr. and Duque initiated the encounter by heading toward Manuel.
Duque was called to the stand but was advised she had the right to seek her own counsel before taking the stand, which she accepted.
“Because of your relationship to the alleged occurrences, in this case there is some possibility that there could be some criminal liability or culpability on your part.” Senda said. “There is some possibility that you could be charged with the commission of criminal offenses. Because of that, before you make any decision and answer any questions under oath, you do have the right to see advise from an attorney.”
In a previous interview with The Garden Island, Duque said Manuel and Allianic Jr. fought on Sept. 25 and that during the fight she was stabbed. Manuel and Duque left Allianic Jr. alive to head to the hospital to take care of her wound, Duque said.
More witness testimony will be given when the preliminary hearing resumes.
