Posted at 2:38 p.m., Tuesday, December 4, 2001

Mirikitani sentencing postponed

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

The federal sentencing hearing for former city Councilman Andy Mirikitani on bribery and related charges opened this afternoon, but won't be concluded until Thursday.

Federal Judge Helen Gillmor granted a request by Mirikitani's lawyer John Edmunds for time to prepare a response to a presentence memo submitted by the probation office today. The hearing will resume 8:30 a.m. Thursday.

Mirikitani, 45, was convicted of bribery, extortion, wire fraud and witness tampering for offering two former aides bonuses on condition that they kick back a share of the money to him. Under state law, Mirikitani did not have to leave his office until his sentencing.

But he retired from office Saturday, a day after he married his codefendant Sharron Bynum, who was found guilty of theft and extortion. Bynum's sentencing is scheduled to start this afternoon.