Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Man charged in beating death

A 23-year-old Kalihi man was charged yesterday with second-degree murder in the beating death of a man early Monday.

Ulutunu Faumuina Jr. of Democrat Street was being held last night in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Faumuina is accused of punching and kicking Mikiala Kahalewai near the Pachinko Karaoke nightclub shortly after 1 a.m. Monday. At least three other men also beat Kahalewai, police said.

Kahalewai was pronounced dead at The Queen's Medical Center at 2:03 a.m. Faumuina told police he punched Kahalewai because Kahalewai urinated in Faumuina's pickup truck.

Bank robberies may be linked

A man who robbed City Bank's Kalihi branch at 2119 N. King St. on Friday may also be responsible for the April 5 robbery of American Savings Bank's Liliha branch and the Aug. 1 robbery of Hawaii National Bank at Honolulu International Airport.

Call Detective Derrick Kiyoki at 529-3436 or CrimeStoppers (955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone).

Man found in water identified

A 54-year-old man found floating several hundred yards offshore at Waikiki Beach on Saturday has been identified by the medical examiner's office as Fumiaki Shitara of Japan. Shitara died Saturday at The Queen's Medical Center at 10:05 a.m.

Murder suspect had Maui run-in

A judge in Riverhead, N.Y., yesterday set a Sept. 1 trial datefor a Long Island electrician accused of brutally slaying an East Hampton millionaire more than 2 1/2 years ago.

Daniel Pelosi, 40, is charged with bludgeoning investment banker Theodore Ammon in October 2001.

Pelosi, who installed a security system in Ammon's mansion — and who later married Ammon's widow — remains in the Suffolk County jail, where he is being held without bail on a second-degree murder charge. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Charges are also pending against Pelosi in Hawai'i, where he allegedly assaulted a crew member during a Maui dinner cruise in January. Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza set a May 17 trial date in that case.