A 46-year-old Ocean View man charged with attempted murder for a stabbing May 10 in Keaukaha is free on bail.
A 46-year-old Ocean View man charged with attempted murder for a stabbing May 10 in Keaukaha is free on bail.
Paul Michael Gibson was released Wednesday evening from Hawaii Community Correctional Center after posting $374,000 bond, a few hours after the start of his preliminary hearing. The hearing, which was not completed, is scheduled to continue May 22, but the Hilo grand jury meets the previous day, so it’s possible prosecutors could seek an indictment against Gibson, which would render the continued preliminary hearing unnecessary.
Gibson, a licensed plumber who owns Built to Last Plumbing in Naalehu, is accused of stabbing 41-year-old David Coombs of Hilo seven times on a side road near James Kealoha Beach Park.
Gibson’s attorney, Michael Zola, said Tuesday the stabbing was in self-defense. Coombs’ wife, Alicia, testified Wednesday the stabbing was unprovoked. She said neither she nor her husband knows Gibson, but Gibson confronted them at a party for a deceased biker and told them to leave. She said he later rode his motorcycle to where they were parked, picked a fight with her husband, stabbed him and threatened them both with a firearm.
Court documents filed by police say a black .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol was found in bushes off Apapane Road in Keaukaha.
David Coombs, who suffered stab wounds to his side, was taken to Hilo Medical Center in critical but stable condition, but has since been released from the hospital.
Gibson has been ordered not to contact David or Alicia Coombs either in person, or by any third party except for his attorney or investigator hired by his attorney.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.