An O‘ahu grand jury yesterday indicted Eric K. Vance on charges of robbing and murdering Kane‘ohe liquor store owner Song Chol Marshall on Christmas Eve.
The grand jurors also indicted four other men on charges of robbing the store owner.
According to a police affidavit, the men were together in a car when they pulled into the parking lot of Angie’s Market on Christmas Eve at about 10 p.m. Vance walked over and shot Marshall as he was getting into his van, according to the affidavit.
The 45-year-old Marshall, whose body was found in a large trash container in Waimanalo, had been shot in the head.
Vance, 31, was charged in the indictment with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and ownership or possession of any firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of certain crimes, authorities said.
Second-degree murder carries a mandatory life term with parole.
Albert R. Hoapili Jr., 33; Gabriel Apilando, 30; James K. Hoapili, 28; and Shelden Barques, 31, were charged with first-degree robbery. The charge carries a prison term of up to 20 years upon conviction.
Authorities said Barques and Albert Hoapili Jr. also were charged with hindering prosecution, and Barques also was charged with second-degree criminal property damage.
Arrest warrants have been issued for all but Vance, who was held on $250,000 bond.
A hearing was scheduled for today to determine whether there was enough evidence to hold Vance on the murder charge and send his case to trial. Yesterday’s indictment automatically sends the case to trial and cancels the hearing.
Vance and the four other men were arrested last week, but the other four were released.
