A 66-year-old Captain Cook man charged with the murder of his son appeared in Kona District Court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.
James Bonham is charged with a single count of second-degree murder in the April shooting death of 45-year-old Joshua Bonham.
A preliminary hearing was held before Judge Margaret Masunaga where prosecutors had to show they had probable cause to support the charges filed against the Bonham. Masunaga found probable cause and remanded the case to Circuit Court for trial.
Bonham will appear July 10 in Kona Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim’s courtroom for an arraignment and plea hearing. He remains out of custody after being granted supervised release on May 1.
The single charge of second-degree murder stems from a reported shooting in the 83-5000 block of Middle Keei Road in Captain Cook, according to police, who were sent the area at 9:09 p.m. April 28.
According to court records, Bonham called 911 to report that he had shot his son. When police arrived, Bonham indicated his deceased son was the only one in the house, and gave officers the location of the firearm inside the house.
When police entered the home, court records state, officers found the front sliding glass door shattered and Joshua Bonham’s body lying face down on the floor with a gunshot wound to his upper shoulder area. The victim was later pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital.
Police recovered a shotgun, one spent shell and two live cartridges at the scene, according to court records.
Police said an autopsy determined Joshua Bonham died of a gunshot wound to the back.