Hilo stabbing suspect pleads not guilty

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A 28-year-old Pahoa man stabbed early Friday morning in downtown Hilo suffered a punctured aorta and a 49-year-old Wainaku man sustained a punctured lung after he was allegedly stabbed 26 times by the same assailant.

A 28-year-old Pahoa man stabbed early Friday morning in downtown Hilo suffered a punctured aorta and a 49-year-old Wainaku man sustained a punctured lung after he was allegedly stabbed 26 times by the same assailant.

The suspect, 28-year-old Varaha Mims, a Hilo man with no permanent address, made his initial court appearance Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder, three counts of attempted second-degree murder, burglary, property damage and marijuana possession.

Deputy Prosecutor Darien Nagata asked District Judge Harry Freitas to revoke Mims’ $500,000 bail and Mims’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa objected.

The judge maintained Mims’ bail and ordered Mims to return at 2 p.m. Thursday for a preliminary hearing.

Mims remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center.

Mims has no prior felony convictions.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.