By local and wire sources
Grand jury indicts Waimea man
HILO — A Hilo grand jury has returned an indictment against a 21-year-old Waimea man for allegedly killing another man in a fight outside a Hilo sports bar.
The indictment, dated Jan. 25, alleged that Waylen Keoni Carenio “recklessly caused the death” of 44-year-old Roy Williams Jr. of Hilo.
Williams died Dec. 4, a day after the early morning affray outside Karma Hawaii sports bar on Makaala Street in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area. Witnesses told police that Williams had been in a fight with another man, later identified as Carenio, and that Williams had fallen and struck his head on the pavement.
Carenio, who has competed in amateur surf and mixed martial arts events, is free on $50,000 bail.
“I would like to see his bail revoked. I don’t think he should be out,” Caring Leyson, Williams’ older sister, said Tuesday. “He shouldn’t get a chance to do this to somebody else.
Carenio was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 9 in Hilo District Court, but the indictment means Carenio’s arrest and his case will be moved to Circuit Court for arraignment and plea after a bench warrant is served.
Williams was a father of five, the youngest a 6-year-old son named Josiah, whom Williams coached in T-ball and coach-pitch baseball.
“At the funeral, I was looking at him and he wouldn’t listen to anyone else but his dad. And, my God, my heart breaks, you know,” Leyson said. “I feel sad that his son didn’t have enough time with his dad.” She added that her brother was engaged to be married to his son’s mother and was “in love as could be.”
Mountain View death classified as a murder
HILO — Police say a man found dead outside his Mountain View home on Saturday morning was murdered.
An autopsy conducted Tuesday determined that 52-year-old Robert John “Johnny” Leong died from a combination of strangulation with a cord-like object and a brain injury from a gunshot wound.
“We do not have anyone in custody at the present time but the investigation continues,” Lt. Greg Esteban of the police Criminal Investigations Section said Tuesday afternoon. He declined further comment.
Police responded to a 6:52 a.m. report on Saturday to Leong’s home at 11-3410 Palainui Ave. in the Eden Roc Estates subdivision and found Leong’s body outside his residence, described as a lean-to attached to a converted shipping container.
Leong’s aunt, Cathleen Hiona Thompson, who lives in California, said Leong was raised as a hanai son by her husband’s aunt, who died about five years ago, and that Leong had been her caregiver on Oahu before moving to the Big Island.
“I think he had a good heart,” Thompson said.
She said that Leong’s birth mother also lives in California.
Case raises nearly $112,000 for Senate race
HONOLULU — Former Congressman Ed Case says he raised nearly $112,000 for his Senate campaign in the last quarter of 2011.
Case said in a news release Tuesday that he knew from the beginning his campaign would need at least $1 million through the primary. He says the campaign is on track to exceed that amount.
Case is trailing both U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Gov. Linda Lingle in fundraising.
Lingle — who is seeking the Republican nomination — announced last week she raked in nearly $1.8 million in her first months as a candidate. She entered the race in October.
Case’s rival for the Democratic nomination, Hirono, raised nearly $625,000 in October through December.
By local and wire sources