Family, friend testify Aki 'gentle,' polite

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

Murder defendant Christopher Aki was described in court yesterday by relatives and a friend as a quiet, loving and caring individual, one never prone to violence.

Aki's uncle, Gary Aki, testified that he did not believe his nephew was capable of physical violence.

Gary Aki, 52, said he "was like a father figure" to Christopher Aki, who was raised by his single-parent mother.

He described his nephew as "well-behaved, a good kid, respectful" and "very obedient as far as his family goes."

He said Christopher Aki has always been reed thin and was never active in organized sports, but spent much of his time playing video games. "As long as I have known him, Christopher has always been a skinny, scrawny little kid," Gary Aki testified.

He said he had never seen Aki "in a violent state."

But in response to a question from City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, the uncle said he did not know that Christopher Aki was a frequent user of "ice," or crystal methamphetamine.

Gary Aki was one of the defense witnesses for Christopher Aki, 21, who is trial on a charge of beating to death 11-year-old Kahealani "Kahea" Indreginal on Dec. 10, 2002, a day after prosecutors say he smoked crystal methamphetamine. Her body was found Dec. 13, 2002, off the 'Aiea Loop Trail.

Christopher Aki initially told police he knew nothing about what might have happened to the girl, then said two men he knew killed her to steal her Hawaiian bracelets. When he was interviewed by police a third time, Christopher Aki confessed to killing the girl and acting alone.

State Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins said Christopher Aki falsely confessed after the girl's real killer, her uncle Dennis Cacatian, threatened to kill Christopher Aki and his family if he told the truth, but Carlisle has said Christopher Aki killed the girl and created the story about Cacatian in a desperate attempt to blame someone else for his own actions.

Also testifying yesterday was Gary Aki's 20-year-old son, Kinohi, who described his cousin Christopher as "gentle, caring, very soft and very understanding."

Kinohi Aki said he worked for a short time in construction with his cousin, but found that Christopher Aki was "not physically built for construction."

"He is a very peaceful person and not violent whatsoever," Kinohi Aki said. He said Christopher Aki told him about smoking methamphetamine but that he never saw him smoke the drug.

Ryan Teruya, who worked with Christopher Aki at a car dealership on Nimitz Highway, described him as "very kind, gentle and well-mannered."

"He is a 'yes ma'am, yes sir,' 'please and thank you' kind of person," Teruya said.

Teruya, 21, said Aki once told him "he used to do ice" and that he replied that as long as Aki did not come to work under the influence of ice or bring the drug to work, he did not consider it to be a problem.

The trial resumes at 9:30 a.m. today in Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall's courtroom when Christopher Aki is expected to take the stand.

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

Correction: Ryan Teruya's name was incorrect in a previous version of this story.