Posted on: Saturday, October 9, 2004
Neighbor faces trial in attack
By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer
A 40-year-old man accused of squirting his neighbor with gasoline and setting him on fire was ordered to stand trial yesterday on a charge of second-degree attempted murder.
Honolulu District Judge Clarence Pacarro upheld the charge against Keith Yamamoto after hearing a police detective testify on a horrifying account by the victim, who said he was burned and then chased by his neighbor on Bush Lane near Punchbowl on Monday morning.
There was no testimony yesterday about any motive for the attack, but it was one in a series of altercations, according to a restraining order sought by Lai "Peter" Leong last year.
Yamamoto did not say anything at yesterday's hearing, but when he entered the courtroom and reached the defense counsel table, he faced a TV news camera, gave a shaka sign and said, "Make sure I go on the news."
Deputy Public Defender Darcia Forester said it was too early to outline her client's defense.
Police Detective Lee Kitano testified yesterday that Leong was still at Straub Clinic and Hospital with burns to the left side of his face, shoulder and back.
Kitano said Leong had related that he was in his white Mercedes with his wife, sister and 11-month-old daughter in the back seat when his neighbor from across the street pulled up in his blue pickup truck and blocked Leong's car.
Yamamoto pointed a spear gun at Leong, smashed a rear window and the driver's window with a hammer, squirted a liquid and threw what Leong thought was a book of matches into the car, Kitano testified.
"He caught on fire at that point," the detective said.
Leong got out of the car and fled, but saw Yamamoto chasing him, Kitano said. Leong took off his burning shirt and eventually flagged down a motorist.
In May 2003, Leong sought a restraining order against "my crazy neighbor," citing three instances of attack and assault.
Yamamoto, initially charged with first-degree attempted murder, now faces the reduced charge. He also must stand trial on related counts of terroristic threatening and criminal property damage.
He is being held on $100,000 bail.
Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.
