Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2003

Kona court hears fatal attack details

Advertiser Staff

KEALAKEKUA, Hawai'i — A Big Island man charged with second-degree murder told police he hit the victim over the head five or six times with a torque wrench, a police detective testified at a preliminary hearing yesterday in Kona District Court.

Casey C. Eason, 28, of Kona Highlands, is accused of killing Michael Hackmeyer, 39, of Kailua, Kona. Prosecutors said the crime was especially heinous and cruel, which would mean a life sentence without parole if Eason is convicted. He remains in custody with bail set at $250,000.

Hackmeyer's body was found April 10 off the gravel road to Makalawena Beach near Keahole. His family said he had been missing since April 1.

Following his arrest Monday, Eason gave differing accounts of the events leading up to the killing, detective Wayne Young said. In one statement Eason said there was an argument between several men, and later he told police that he owed Hackmeyer money and that the victim had threatened him.

Young said Eason stated that on the night of the killing, the two men had a fistfight in the Makalawena area and that Hackmeyer used his cell phone, then Eason bashed him on the head with the wrench.

Eason told police he dragged the body to a spot about 30 yards from the road in the remote coastal area.

Another detective testified he found a torque wrench about two-tenths of a mile from the body, and that a check of Hackmeyer's cell phone records showed that he made a 911 call on April 1.

The hearing was recessed before the contents of the call could be revealed. Kona District Judge Joseph Florendo Jr. set a continuation for 10 a.m. Thursday.