Posted on: Friday, February 7, 2003

Second-degree murder trial opens

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A dispute over the outcome of a cockfight at a Kalihi home in November 2001 led to a brawl in which a Kane'ohe man was fatally injured and his companion severely beaten, city Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima told a Circuit Court jury in the opening phases of a murder trial yesterday.

Lamaar Richardson is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Leon Fernandez, and attempted murder in the beating of Eufracio Esmeralda. Richardson is one of four men to have been charged in connection with the case.

Tashima said two other men, Branden Kakugawa and Jason Yoshimura, pleaded guilty recently to reduced charges of assault for their role in the beating. Kakugawa's brother, Evan Kakugawa, is scheduled to go to trial later on murder and attempted murder charges for his alleged role in the beatings.

The house where the cockfight took place was well known to Honolulu police officers who said it was the only location in urban Honolulu where the fights took place on a regular basis.

In April 2002, police staged a major drug raid at the home as well.

Richardson's attorney, Emlyn Higa, told jurors in his opening statement that the evidence will show that Evan Kakugawa kicked Fernandez in the head as he lay motionless on Bannister Street and is the one who delivered the fatal blows, not Richardson.

Higa described the incident, which began at about 7 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2001, as a "running brawl" involving participants in a cockfight that had been staged at a home at 686 Bannister St.

He said Branden and Evan Kakugawa and Jason Yoshimura had scuffled with another man, who was attempting to hit them with a large stick, but were walking away when Esmeralda and Fernandez called after them, challenging them to fight.

At one point during the ensuing scuffle, Fernandez fell to the ground, Higa said.

"Evan (Kakugawa) kicked Leon right in the head — it was brutal," Higa said.

But Tashima said a number of witnesses to the beating, including several state prison inmates who were being housed at nearby Laumaka conditional release center, will testify that Richardson also took part in the beating.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.