Hearings Rescheduled in Two Maui Murder Cases

Photos by Wendy Osher.

Attorneys in two murder cases agreed today to push back pre-trial hearings for defendants.

In May, murder suspect, 45-year-old Stephen Schmidt entered a not guilty plea to all five counts against him.  The charges stem from an April 19, 2016 incident at the Kehalani Foodland in Wailuku in which 24-year-old Kehau Farias Schmidt had her throat slashed, and two men (James Reeves, 34, of Haʻikū and Scott Spencer “Kip” Stolsig, 53, of Wailuku) who tried to intervene were stabbed, according to police.  A third individual, David Ryan, 32, testified that he was shopping with Farias Schmidt when he was confronted by the suspect, who allegedly pulled out a knife.

Schmidt appeared with a different attorney than his previous representation.  Wailuku attorney Christopher Dunn requested for more time, noting that this was his initial appearance with Schmidt and a brand new case for him. 

Dunn told the judge that he wants to be fully informed and prepared and requested that the pre-trial conference be moved to mid to late September.  The new date has been set for Sept. 29, 2016.

In the other case, murder suspect, 24-year-old Healohaomakanaamekai Akahi Pua is accused second degree murder in the March 19, 2016 death of 39-year-old Michael Colby at Kaʻa Point in Kahului.

According to testimony from a preliminary hearing, the two were involved in a fight that stemmed from a confrontation over an alleged near vehicle collision involving Akahi Pua’s friend.

Attorneys for the state and the defense agreed to push the pre-trial conference to Aug. 4, 2016, as ordered by Judge Peter Cahill.

Coming up on Monday, the murder trial of Steven Capobianco gets underway in Wailuku District Court.  He faces second degree murder and arson charges in the death of 27-year-old Charli Scott, who was five months pregnant when she was reported missing in February of 2014.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty in court.

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