KEALAKEKUA — The man charged with recently trying to kill another man will have a preliminary hearing early next week where prosecutors will have to prove there is probable cause for the case to go forward.
Anthony Graham Beaudet-Close, 34, of Kailua-Kona, allegedly attacked the victim on Oct. 28 near the 75-900 block of Henry Street in Kailua-Kona. Officers discovered an unconscious man with injuries to the head. The 39-year-old was transported to the Kona Community Hospital by ambulance and later medivaced to a hospital on Oahu where he was listed in critical condition.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday in District Court in Kealakekua. If prosecutors prove their case, it will move onto Circuit Court.
Beaudet-Close made his initial court appearance Wednesday, where is bond was maintained at $150,000.
Deputy public defender Andrew Kennedy said his office had a conflict of interest, as they were representing the victim in this case in another case, where the victim is the defendant. Therefore, Kennedy would represent Beaudet-Close only for Wednesday hearing.
The victim was sentenced in 2009 to up to 10 years in prison for first-degree negligent homicide, first-degree burglary, second-degree theft, two counts of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree negligent injury. This included a minimum of one year, eight months for unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
The negligent homicide charge comes from an incident where the victim allegedly crashed and killed his child.
It is the policy of West Hawaii Today not to name victims.
Kennedy argued for a reduced bond of $25,000 during Wednesday’s hearing. He said Beaudet-Close’s mother and grandmother were present, and he would have stable housing.
“We recognize that supervised release is unlikely,” said Kennedy.
Third Circuit Family Court Judge Aley K. Auna maintained bond. He said Beaudet-Close could bring up the matter again at the next hearing.
The victim’s family declined comment.
Beaudet-Close’s family limited their comments to concern about the prosecutor’s clerical work, as a completely separate case had been accidentally merged with Beaudet-Close’s for several minutes.
