Judge rules suspect fit to face murder charge
By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer
A man accused of causing the death of a 71-year-old man by shoving him into the Ala Wai Canal last year has been deemed fit to stand trial on a charge of murder.
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Circuit Judge Reynaldo Graulty yesterday found that Cline Kahue, 48, is now competent enough to face charges that he pushed former Honolulu Star-Bulletin free-lance writer Jack Wyatt into the canal June 18. Wyatt, who had been jogging, drowned.
Last July, Cline Kahue was found too mentally ill to stand trial.
Graulty found Kahue fit to stand trial after reviewing the reports of three mental health experts who were asked to examine Kahue and who all agreed that he is now able to aid in his own defense and understand the proceedings against him.
Kahue's case will be turned over to Circuit Judge Dan Kochi to hold an arraignment and to schedule a trial date.
Last July, a panel of doctors found Kahue too mentally ill to stand trial. Since then he has been undergoing treatment at the Hawai'i State Hospital.
Graulty yesterday granted a request by Kahue's lawyer, state Deputy Public Defender Walter Rodby, that Kahue be held at the hospital instead of the O'ahu Community Correctional Center while awaiting trial so that he may continue to be treated for his mental health problems.
