Police say a 32-year-old Hilo man charged with attempted second-degree murder admitted to beating a 41-year-old Hilo man to within an inch of his life on the Hilo Bayfront late Friday night.
According to court documents filed by police, Wallace Manuarii Tahutini told police the victim had tried to sell Tahutini drugs and attempted to hit him with a rock.
Police found the victim — unconscious, bruised and bloody — at about 10:20 p.m. in the vicinity of the so-called “Lonely Tree.” The victim was lying in sand next to a fire pit and portable metal grill, with his right arm pinned under a large boulder of the fire pit.
Officers extracted the man and used fire extinguishers in an effort to suppress the fire until the arrival of Hawaii Fire Department personnel, who ultimately extinguished the blaze.
The victim was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where it was determined he suffered a severe concussion, both ears almost torn off his head, broken face and jaw bones, multiple facial and scalp lacerations, a third-degree burn on his left leg and five fractured vertebrae.
The victim’s left ear required amputation, police said.
He remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Tahutini, documents state, told police he went to the Bayfront at about 8 p.m. to try to find his wife. The search was unsuccessful, but Tahutini reportedly said he heard screaming from the beach area and found the victim there.
According to police, the victim told Tahutini there was a woman under a nearby pile of rocks, but, “Sorry, I never know that was your wife.”
Tahutini reportedly told police he was so outraged he mounted the victim’s back and punched him continuously until the victim couldn’t talk, but was still moaning. Tahutini also allegedly struck the victim’s knees with a stick to immobilize him.
Documents state Tahutini also scattered the pile of rocks, but didn’t find a woman.
Police made contact with Tahutini by the canoe area. According to documents, Tahutini’s clothes were bloodied, his hands were swollen, and his hands and arms had multiple abrasions.
At Tahutini’s initial court appearance Monday, court-appointed defense attorney William Heflin requested Tahutini be freed on supervised release — a form of cashless bail — or that his bail be reduced to $50,000.
Deputy Prosecutor Herbert Mukai objected, and Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk maintained Tahutini’s bail at $500,000 and ordered him to return Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.
Tahutini has no previous felony convictions. Court records indicate, however, a conviction in Family Court for misdemeanor assault.
If convicted of attempted second-degree murder, Tahutini faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.