LIHUE (AP) — A Kauai man convicted of an execution-style killing may get a new trial as his conviction has been vacated.
LIHUE (AP) — A Kauai man convicted of an execution-style killing may get a new trial as his conviction has been vacated.
The Garden Island reports (https://bit.ly/25oedZ8 ) that the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals has ruled that Vincente Kote Kapika Hilario’s 2013 conviction should be vacated because he did not get a speedy trial.
Hilario’s case went to trial more than 7 months after his arrest. State law requires courts to dismiss charges if a trial does not begin within 6 months.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar says he will ask the Hawaii Supreme Court to review the lower court’s decision, but that he is ready to retry the case if necessary.
Hilario was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2010 death of 34-year-old Aureo Moore. Prosecutors say Hilario shot Moore to prevent him from testifying in a robbery case.