KEALAKEKUA — The case of a man accused of shooting two people and starting a 20-hour standoff with police on July 13 was stalled by language difficulties again during a hearing on Thursday in 3rd Circuit Court. ADVERTISING KEALAKEKUA —
KEALAKEKUA — The case of a man accused of shooting two people and starting a 20-hour standoff with police on July 13 was stalled by language difficulties again during a hearing on Thursday in 3rd Circuit Court.
Macdon Thromman allegedly fired a .30-.30 hunting rifle at his longtime girlfriend, hitting her in the leg, and a police officer, striking his right arm.
Police then surrounded the home and shut down the highway. The Special Response Team made several attempts to storm the house, according to police documents, and Thromman fired at them at least once, striking within two feet of an officer.
The intent of Thursday’s hearing was to review the three doctors’ reports to determine if Thromman is competent to continue the case.
Earlier, public defender Ann Datta had requested a translator for Thromman, a native of the Marshall Islands. He has lived in North Kohala for 20 years, according to court documents.
The interpreter, Santy Echeilam, said he was a native of Yap, had lived in the Marshall Islands for more than 20 years and learned English as a student. He also said he translated at several other cases in the state at the district and circuit court levels.
Datta objected to his employment, citing his lack of listing as an official court translator and his apparent difficulty understanding some of Judge Ronald Ibarra’s questions.
The hearing proceded for several minutes, but came to halt after Ibarra noticed that Echeilam was not translating everything said, and repeating some communications in English.
“Is that Marshallese when you said, ‘Yes, your honor?’” Ibarra asked.
Echeilam said it was.
Ibarra then questioned Echeilam again, especially about what cases he had interpreted for.
Echeilam said he had interpreted for a trial in front of a male judge in the 3rd Circuit in 1998.
“What was the judge’s name?” Ibarra asked.
“Ibarra,” Echeilam said.
“That’s me. I’m Judge Ibarra,” Ibarra said.
Further questioning lead to other inconsistencies with Echeilam’s professional history.
“I don’t recollect you being in my court,” Ibarra said. “I’d recollect you.”
After additional questions by Ibarra and fumbled responses by Echeilam, the judge ordered a continuance in the case until 1 p.m. Dec. 8.
“You may be able to translate into the language,” Ibarra said, “but you are not familiar with the procedures of the court.”
He also asked if Datta had reviewed the doctor’s reports with Thromman in Marshallese.
She said she was unable to do so, as she could not find an available qualified interpreter.
The Hawaii Court official interpreter register includes five translators of Marshallese, three of them on the Big Island.
The job of an interpreter is a part-time one, employed as needed by the court.
Datta requested a mental fitness and capacity hearing on July 21. The prosecution did not object to the motion and District Judge Michael J. Udovic ordered the hearing to proceed.
Thromman remains at Hawaii Community Correctional Center on $390,200 bond.
