A 32-year-old Pahoa man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to second-degree attempted murder and several other offenses stemming from an incident in Puna more than a year ago.
A 32-year-old Pahoa man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to second-degree attempted murder and several other offenses stemming from an incident in Puna more than a year ago.
Gilbert Henry Waiau was ordered to stand trial at 9 a.m. on Dec. 15 in Third Circuit Court in Hilo. A Big Island grand jury indicted Waiau on July 9, charging him with attempted second-degree murder, attempted first-degree assault, attempted second-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree criminal property damage. His bail was set at $85,000.
The charges stem from an incident on April 30, 2013. Puna Patrol officers responded to a report of a possible domestic dispute on the roadway. Officers responded to Kahakai Boulevard at Puni Mauka Loop, where a 23-year-old woman reported that Waiau had followed her in his car and tried to run her off the road, then intentionally hit her car with his. When she got out of her car, he reportedly attempted to ram her with his car, police said.
The case was routed to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and then presented to a Grand Jury.