PHOTO: Galaway Arrested on Murder Charge, Court Date Set

By Wendy Osher

Gerald Galaway. Photo courtesy Maui Police Department.

*** Check back for video/photos of court proceedings.

A man accused of murder in the death of a California woman on Maui earlier this month was placed under arrest today by the strength of a bench warrant.

Gerald W. Galaway Jr. was arrested at around 1:10 p.m. and is expected to appear in 2nd Circuit Court on Maui tomorrow morning.

The bench warrant and accompanying indictment was handed down by Judge Joseph E. Cardoza on Friday, and included a command that Galaway be brought to court as soon as possible.

Galaway faces charges of Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Sexual Assault in the First Degree, and Kidnapping.

The charges stem from a September 1, 2011 homicide investigation in the remote Nakalele Point area of West Maui. Officers responding to a domestic dispute on that day, recovered the body of Celestial Cassman, according to police reports.

Galaway has been hospitalized at the Maui Memorial Medical Center since September 2nd after he allegedly fled from police and jumped from a cliff, suffering apparent injuries in the fall.  The brace seen in the accompanying photo is not a restraining device, but rather a medical brace for apparent back injuries.

Galaway was transported without incident today to the Wailuku Police Station at around 2:50 p.m. for processing.

He is being held on the no bail warrant.