Mirikitani jury to continue deliberations tomorrow

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

A federal jury this afternoon ended a second day of deliberations without reaching a verdict and will begin a third day of deliberations tomorrow morning in the federal corruption case against City Councilman Andy Mirikitani.

Mirikitani, a 45-year-old attorney, is accused of theft, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and witness tampering. His girlfriend, Sharron Bynum is accused of aiding and abetting him in the theft, bribery and extortion cases.

The eight women and four men of the jury began deliberating Friday, spent all day yesterday in deliberations and will return today. They did not meet over the weekend.

Two former Mirikitani aides, Cindy McMillan and Jonn Serikawa, testified that Mirikitani gave them nearly $26,600 in bonuses in exchange for their kicking back $6,600, about half the bonus after taxes. Mirikitani denies receiving any cash from Serikawa and said that he never linked McMillan's bonus to $4,250 worth of campaign contributions she and husband gave to him.

Mirikitani represents Council District V, which includes the communities of Manoa, Moili'ili, McCully,

Tantalus, Makiki, Pawa'a, Ala Moana and Kewalo.

State law prohibits someone sentenced for a felony from holding public office. So, it's possible, if Mirikitani were convicted, that he could remain in office until November when sentencing is currently scheduled in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.