Aki indicted for murder; police say he beat girl

•	Stiff punishment sought in Kahealani's death
	To express your sympathy to the family of Kahealani Indreginal, e-mail us at online@honoluluadvertiser.com

By Walter Wright and Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

An O'ahu grand jury today indicted Christopher Clayburn Aki on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of 11-year-old Kahealani Indreginal.

Judge Daniel Kochi maintained Aki's bail at $5 million after Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp told the judge that Aki admitted to beating Kahealani, his fiancee's half-sister, with a pipe and leaving her body near 'Aiea Loop Trail.

A police source told The Advertiser that Aki told police that he punched Kahealani Indreginal after she slapped him while they were eating in his parked car at an 'Aiea park.

The girl's body was found Friday, about 72 hours after she was last seen at her Pu'uwai Momi housing complex in Makalapa, near the 'Aiea Loop Trail.

Kahealani's body has been tentatively identified and the Army's Central Identification Laboratory-Hawaii is assisting the Honolulu medical examiner in making a positive identification. Army identification experts are looking at her teeth and her dental records. The medical examiner hopes to have that finalized today.

Aki told police that after he punched the girl he continued beating her outside of his car with a metal pipe he found in the parking lot, the source said. At one point, Aki said he went to wash his hands with water he had in his car, the source added.

Aki said he beat the girl a second time and poked her in the stomach with the metal pipe, the source said.

Police received information Friday identifying Aki as a suspect.

According to a police affidavit filed at District Court, a witness saw Kahealani walking toward Aki's blue Dodge Neon and leave the complex in his car at about 3 p.m. on Dec. 10. They apparently stopped to pick up food at a fast-food restaurant before going to the park.

The source declined comment on what caused the girl to slap Aki.

City prosecutors said they will seek the state's harshest sentence of a life prison term without parole for Aki.

Aki is charged with second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life with the possibility of parole, but Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle yesterday said the "heinous" nature of the crime warrants tougher punishment.