The 37-year-old man who allegedly attempted to kill four people, three of them police officers, will undergo a mental examination to determine his fitness to proceed.
The 37-year-old man who allegedly attempted to kill four people, three of them police officers, will undergo a mental examination to determine his fitness to proceed.
South Kohala District Court Judge Michael J. Udovic on Tuesday ordered the examination for Kapaau resident Macdon Thromman, and scheduled a hearing on the examiners’ reports for Sept. 22. The order also suspended Thromman’s preliminary hearing, which was previously continued Friday after a qualified Marshallese interpreter was unable to be secured for a hearing in Kona District Court.
Thromman is facing three counts of attempted first-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder, nine counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, two firearms offenses and one count each of felony abuse of a family member, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a minor and reckless endangering in connection with the incident which stretched more than 20 hours between July 13 and 14. His bail remains set at $390,200.
According to police, Thromman barricaded himself inside his Kapaau home after police were called to the area over reports of a domestic violence situation at 7:48 p.m. July 13. Thromman allegedly opened fire, striking an approaching police officer in the right arm. He also allegedly shot his girlfriend in the right outer thigh prior to police arriving at the home on Akoni Pule Highay.
A standoff ensued, prompting the closure of the highway, as well as an evacuation. Police remained there for 20 hours before he was taken into custody shortly before 4:30 p.m. July 14. Thromman also fired shots as the officers moved in, hitting an armored truck, striking it 2 feet below where an officer was exposed in an open hatch on top of the vehicle.
Before the judge continued Thromman’s preliminary hearing Tuesday, the court resolved the issue of speaking with the 37-year-old, whose defense had requested an interpreter.
One of the issues that held up the initial hearing on Friday was the lack of formally qualified Marshallese interpreters. The defense had requested one for Thromman, who is a native of the Marshall Islands. On Tuesday, an interpreter was flown in from Honolulu, but became lost on his way to the court, delaying the hearing by two hours.
Abel Anien testified that he is one of the few interpreters who have passed the basic tests of the program. He also noted there is no one he’s aware of that has passed all the levels. In addition, he testified that he flew to Kauai at least 25 times last year, a number that has been increasing.
Udovic ruled he was qualified and the hearing proceeded.
The case advanced to an oral indictment, where the 22 counts against Thromman were read out. Initially they were read by the prosecution and immediately translated. Thromman said it was too confusing to have English in one ear and Marshallese in the other.
Instead, the court went off the record and the translator read out the entirety of the charges. Thomman and Anien had several discussions as they continued.
When the court went back on the record, the defense asked that Thromman be evaluated for his fitness to proceed. When asked for what cause, Deputy Public Defender Ann Datta said the request was “based on my interaction with and observation of Mr. Thromman.” Prosecutors did not object to the request.
Neither eight police officers nor several other witnesses were able to testify during Tuesday’s preliminary hearing.