Defendant accused of scaring witness
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A 32-year-old Waikiki man who is awaiting trial on an attempted murder charge now faces an additional charge of intimidating a witness.
Advertiser library photo • Oct. 21, 1995
Anthony Chatman was arrested yesterday at his residence after a woman said a man tried to coerce her into not testifying at the upcoming trial. The woman, 34, is scheduled to testify against Chatman, police said.
Anthony Chatman was arrested yesterday.
In April, Chatman was charged with attempted second-degree murder in the severe beating of his 6-month-old son. Prosecutors said Tyson Suzuki suffered brain damage after he was beaten at the Ambassador Hotel in Waikiki April 6 and 7.
Chatman had been out on $50,000 bail. But the potential witness told police that she was advised by a man, identified by police as Chatman, to leave Honolulu and also to write a letter saying she had lied to police about Chatman's involvement in the case. Chatman was being held in a police cellblock last night pending charges.
This is not the first such case involving Chatman. In 1995, his 4-month-old daughter was diagnosed as suffering from shaken baby syndrome, with brain damage.
The baby sitter was charged with assault, but that charge was dropped after medical evidence cleared her. Police turned their attention to Chatman and his wife, but no charges were filed. Prosecutors said the statute of limitations had lapsed before charges could be brought.
