Posted on: Thursday, November 22, 2001

Fatal beating at cockfight unprovoked, witness says

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man who was beaten to death after a Kalihi cockfight on Friday night was trying to find out what happened in an earlier beating when he was attacked, according to a police affidavit.

Police said a cockfighting dispute spilled out of control and led to the beating of Eufracio Esmeralda, 41, and the death of Leon Fernandez, 39, at 686 Bannister St.

They have made five arrests in the case.

Yesterday they charged Evan Kakugawa, 33, of 9th Avenue, and Jason Yoshimura, 34, of Republican Street, with second-degree murder. Bail was set at $500,000 each.

The Bannister Street house has long been the best-known cockfighting spot in Honolulu, according to police, but authorities said they cannot make any arrests related to cockfighting unless they see fights start or see the slashing knives on the birds' legs.

Several witnesses described the events leading up to the beatings in a police affidavit by Honolulu Police Detective Anderson Hee.

According to the affidavit, a patron at the cockfight, Romeo Bulo-

san, said everyone ran after the cockfighting dispute. Bulosan said he saw Esmeralda swinging a log at several men, but the log was taken away and someone began striking Esmeralda with it, knocking him to the ground.

About two or three other men kicked Esmeralda while he was on the ground, Bulosan said, then walked toward Wilcox Lane.

Bulosan then told his friend Fernandez what had happened, and they both walked toward the assailants, the affidavit said. One punched Fernandez, who was trying to ask why Esmeralda was assaulted, and another punched Bulosan in the mouth.

Bulosan fled, and Fernandez was beaten.

When Bulosan returned, Fernandez was unconscious.

Both Esmeralda and Fernandez were taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Doctors pronounced Fernandez brain dead on Saturday afternoon, and police reclassified the case a second-degree murder.

Esmeralda was last reported by police in guarded condition.