Jury selection resumes in Aki's murder trial

Advertiser Staff

Jury selection in the trial of a man accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl in December 2002 resumed yesterday following a two-day break that resulted from the murder defendant being beaten by a prisoner in a Circuit Court holding area Wednesday

Law-enforcement officials said Halawa inmate Albert Batalona got into an altercation with pretrial detainee Christopher Aki, whose trial on murder charges is scheduled to begin March 30. The two were eating lunch when the much bigger Batalona allegedly attacked the slightly built Aki, who suffered facial injuries.

Aki's lawyer, state Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins said yesterday that Aki has largely recovered from his injuries and was able to assist when jury selection resumed yesterday. Eddins said Aki's trial will likely begin as scheduled.

Aki, 21, is accused of murdering Kahealani "Kahea" Indreginal, whose body was found on Dec. 13, 2002, off the 'Aiea Loop Trail three days after she was last seen at the Pu'uwai Momi public housing in Halawa, where she lived.