Defendant's mother granted 15-day TRO

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Patricia Aki, the mother of murder suspect Christopher Aki, has been granted a temporary restraining order against the family of Kahealani Indreginal, saying in court documents that she fears for her safety.

In the Monday filing, Aki said Tanya Mamala-Tumbaga, her son's ex-girlfriend and the mother of her two grandchildren, called her last Saturday. Tanya is also the sister of slaying victim Kahealani.

During the conversation, Aki claims, Tanya's mother Lehua Mamala-Tumbaga, came on the line and began screaming at her, blaming her for the media coverage of new evidence related to her daughter's death. Aki's attorneys said last week that Dennis Cacatian, Kahealani's uncle, is the killer.

The court document claims Lehua Mamala-Tumbaga told Patricia Aki, "Watch your step."

Judge Hilary Gangnes granted the order for 15 days, and scheduled a hearing for April 6.

Last week, state Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins did not identify the girl's uncle by name during the hearing, but a document he filed at Circuit Court on Thursday alleges that Cacatian is the girl's killer.

Aki, 21, is scheduled to go on trial six days from now on a murder charge of beating Kahealani, whose body was found off the 'Aiea Loop Trail on Dec. 13, 2002, three days after she was last seen at the Pu'uwai Momi public housing in Halawa, where she lived.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.