Man arrested in death of apartment manager

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police yesterday arrested a former tenant of the apartment manager found fatally beaten in his Palolo Valley home last week.

The 47-year-old man, who has no local address, turned himself in to police at 10:35 Wednesday night and was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder at 12:10 a.m. yesterday.

Police opened a homicide investigation after finding the body of Edgar Lum, 64, of Palolo Valley in the front doorway of his 3404 Kupa'a Drive home Saturday.

Homicide Lt. Bill Kato said a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was recently evicted by Lum and went to Lum's house on June 25 to plead his case.

"He just felt it was very unfair, got really upset and confronted him," Kato said. "There was an argument and he ended up beating him up."

Lum had head injuries, and an autopsy performed Monday indicated that he died from blunt trauma to the head.

Kato said the suspect works as a handyman and had been sought by police since Tuesday.

"We basically had his name and were beating the bushes," Kato said. "His family and friends decided to get together and told him to turn himself in. We wanted to see what he had to say."

Kato said homicide detectives would question the man today. Police also expect to charge him today, according to Kato.

Police said Lum was a former accountant who managed several apartment units. Lum's brother told police that Lum also studied law.