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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 21, 2001


Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Fire destroys Makawao home

Five people were left homeless today when a fire destroyed their plantation-style home near Makawao, Maui, a fire official said.

Four fire companies responded to the 3:34 a.m. call at 927 Hali`imaile Road and had the fire under control at 4:33 a.m.

No one was hurt in the fire at the plantation-style unit that caused an estimated $75,000 in damage to the structure, $25,000 to the contents and $1,000 to a car.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Felony charges in tee time scam

Two Verizon Hawai'i employees have been charged with unauthorized computer use in connection with hacking into the city computer system last year to secure tee times at public golf courses, authorities said.

Harmon Lee and Lawrence Seu are charged with using the company's computer to block calls while they booked tee times. Authorities say the Mili-

lani men participated in the scheme from March 30 to Aug. 2, 2000.

Lee and Seu are scheduled to appear tomorrow for an arraignment and plea, but prosecutors said a plea agreement had been reached. The two were arrested and released in October pending an investigation.

Unauthorized computer use is a felony punishable by a maximum of five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Jurors granted delay in decision

A Circuit Court judge has suspended until April 2 jury deliberations in the murder trial of Joel Keoni Brunson, in order to accommodate commitments by jurors, officials said.

Jurors began deliberating last week in a trial that was expected to last several weeks but stretched to 10 weeks.

Brunson, 18, is accused of shooting Robert Rodemio at a birthday party May 20 in 'Ewa Beach that escalated into a nightime street brawl between Kalihi and 'Ewa Beach boys.

A prosecution witness testified he was just two feet away when Brunson began firing a gun at Rodemio, 18, but the defense said the witness had lied repeatedly, and that Brunson, of 'Ewa Beach, had left the party when the shooting occurred.

Jurors had spoken to Judge Michael Town early on about previous commitments, which have led to the suspension in deliberations, officials said.