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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 12:01 p.m., Wednesday, November 13, 2002

Military readies report in Pearl murder case

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Marine Maj. Michael Mori is expected to present an investigative report on the double-murder case against a Pearl Harbor sailor facing court martial to Adm. Robert T. Conway Jr., commander of Navy Region Hawai'i, within three weeks.

The report is based on three days of extensive review of defense witnesses and prosecution evidence against Hull Technician 2nd Class David A. DeArmond, who is accused of killing his wife, Zaleha, and mother-in-law, Saniah B. Abdul Ghani, who was on an extended visit from Singapore, on June 10 at his Hokulani subdivision military housing residence near Pearl Harbor.

Mori, the hearing's investigating officer; DeArmond's three military attorneys ­Marine Lt. Col. Pete DeLorier, Lt. Matthew Kurek and Lt. Dan Shanahan ­ and prosecutors Lt. Jimmy Chen and Lt. Adam Palmer, concluded three days of hearings yesterday at 6 p.m., the Navy said.

More than 30 defense and prosecution witnesses were questioned by Mori and the attorneys at the hearings. All evidence that could be presented at a future court martial was introduced during the hearing.

Mori's report will include recommendations that will help to set up guidelines for the court-martial trial.

DeArmond has requested the military pay for a private defense attorney to represent him at the court martial.

In addition to the murders, DeArmond is also charged with raping his estranged wife, and impeding an investigation by destroying, moving and tampering with evidence.