Aki trial delayed for DNA test
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
The murder trial for Christopher Aki, who is accused of killing his girlfriend's 11-year-old sister, was postponed yesterday for six weeks because the prosecution wants to test the DNA of another man who a defense attorney says is the real killer.
Judge Virginia Crandall granted a motion made yesterday by the prosecutor's office to continue the trial until April 13.
Aki's lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Todd Eddins, last week said it was Dennis Cacatian, an uncle of the girl, who killed Kahealani "Kahea" Indreginal.
Cacatian has denied any involvement in the girl's death, and police have said they believe Aki, 21, acted alone.
In filing the motion, City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said he needs time to investigate the case further.
"Everything should be directed at determining the truth," Carlisle said. "What we do not want to see is a false red herring played out in front of the jury."
Carlisle wants the DNA taken from blood found on a watch that was in Aki's car to be compared with Cacatian's.
"If the defense attorney plans to make some argument based on the blood found in the car on the watch then we are entitled to prove the truth of what is on that watch," Carlisle said.
Indreginal's 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.
The trial had been scheduled to begin this morning.
Also yesterday, a federal judge sentenced Cacatian to 34 months in federal prison for possession of a rifle magazine that holds more than the legal number of bullets.
Cacatian, 42, must also complete three years of supervised release after serving his prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Porter said. Cacatian is out on bail and must surrender to federal prison authorities in six weeks.
Police found rifle magazines capable of holding up to 30 .223-caliber bullets during a Feb. 6 search of Cacatian's 'Aiea home. The search was conducted under a warrant related to a firearms case that occurred before Indreginal's death.
Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
