Court is told of confession in murder case
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
Faitele Faitele Jr., the homeless man accused of killing another homeless man whose body turned up in Honolulu Harbor last month, confessed to police that he beat the 25-year-old man and dumped him into Nu'uanu Stream because he thought the victim forced his expulsion from a shelter, according to court testimony.
Ruben Kimura's body was found floating face-down in Honolulu Harbor off Pier 14 on the morning of April 26. His body was discovered by an employee of Pacific Environmental Corp.
According Dr. Kanthi von Guenthner, the city medical examiner, Kimura suffered blows to both sides of his head, one of which fractured his skull. She said the injury that cracked his skull was likely caused by his head hitting a rough surface, like concrete or a rock.
The stream that Kimura was tossed into is less than 2 feet deep in areas.
Von Guenthner testified Wednesday that Kimura died as a result of drowning, but that one of the head injuries could have been fatal.
At the end of the hearing, Honolulu District Judge Faye Koyanagi ordered Faitele to stand trial on a charge of murdering Kimura.
Another witness Wednesday was police Detective James Anderson, who testified that Faitele, also known as "Little Bow Wow," told him that on April 24 he saw Kimura in 'A'ala Park and started a conversation.
Faitele and Kimura both sought shelter at the Institute for Human Services, but Faitele was suspended for smoking marijuana and he thought Kimura was responsible for turning him in, Anderson said. The police detective said Faitele told him that Kimura was afraid and took a swing at him, at which time Faitele fought back, beating Kimura to the ground before pushing his body over a 7-foot ledge into the stream.
Anderson said Faitele, who admitted drinking three 40-ounce beers before the fight, told him he ran to a bridge and saw Kimura twitching in the water. Faitele and his friends climbed into the stream and pulled Kimura out of the water, resting his body on the sidewalk near the stream, according to Anderson's testimony.
Faitele's friends left, and Faitele hit Kimura to wake him up, Anderson said. Anderson said Faitele told him that Kimura began convulsing and then stopped breathing. Faitele then threw Kimura back into the stream because he "knew cops would see the body" and he wanted to get to get it out of there, according to Anderson's testimony.
Anderson said Faitele told him that after dumping Kimura's body the second time, he changed clothes and went looking for a place to sleep.
Faitele has four previous criminal convictions for disorderly conduct, distributing liquor to a minor, criminal property damage, and shop-lifting.
Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.
