A 61-year-old Pahoa man accused of a stabbing last week in Pohoiki testified Monday he didn’t commit a crime, that his accusers forced him to drink alcohol and robbed him.
The statement was made in Hilo District Court by Boris Ivanovich Vereshak, originally identified by police as Boris Yarmolyk, through a Russian-language interpreter. Before he spoke, Vereshak was cautioned by Judge Andrew Wilson he had the right to remain silent but the interpreter was duty bound to translate any statement made by Vereshak and it could be used against him in court.
Sergy Serov, who handled interpretation duties by telephone, told Wilson that Vereshak understood the judge’s advice but wanted to make the statement, anyway.
“There was no committed crime,” Vereshak said through Serov. “They made me drink alcohol, then they robbed me. But there was no crime committed by me.”
Vereshak is charged with first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and another of third-degree assault.
According to court documents filed by police, Vereshak and the victim, 24-year-old Roman Zubkov, who are acquainted, were at a social gathering at the Pohoiki Road home of a mutual acquaintance, Vitaly Novikov. Zubkov reportedly told police Vereshak punched him in the chin after being asked to use a weed whacker and a fight ensued. Both Zubkov and Novikov told police Vereshak produced a knife and Novikov said Vereshak stabbed Zubkov, documents state.
Police say Zubkov sustained arterial damage to his right bicep and cuts to his left hand and upper left arm. He was taken to Hilo Medical Center in serious but stable condition, but has since been released, police said.
Vereshak’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Tiara Maumau, told the court her client, who had visible damage to his face, had been in custody for six days prior to his court appearance.
“During that time, I have not been able to speak with him with a Russian interpreter present, and a bail study could not be done because of his limited understanding of English,” she said.
Maumau asked the court to grant supervised release to Vereshak or reduce his bail to $5,000, and accused prosecutors of overcharging her client.
“The prosecutor has fragmented a single criminal conduct, which is one fight, into numerous charges, even though the prosecutor knows that these charges will be merged at a later time,” she said. “And it’s simply a way for the prosecutor to intimidate Mr. (Vereshak) and also to keep him in custody by raising the bail amount and … put the prosecutor in better plea bargaining position at a later date.”
Wilson reduced Vereshak’s bail from $10,000 to $5,000 and ordered him to appear for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
The most serious charge, first-degree assault, is a Class B felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Documents state Vereshak has no prior felony convictions, and Maumau said prosecutors informed her Vereshak has no criminal convictions.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
