Posted on: Monday, September 27, 2004

Suspect is charged with murder

Advertiser Staff

Police have filed a second-degree murder charge against a 38-year-old man suspected in the fatal assault of a Nu'uanu convenience store owner.

The charge was filed Saturday against William Albinio after a witness picked him out of a lineup, police said. Bail was set at $75,000.

Acting on a tip, police arrested Albinio on Friday in District Court, where he was being arraigned on an unrelated assault charge.

Albinio is a suspect in the death of Edwin Medeiros, 58, the owner of Nuuanu Liquor and Sundries on Nu'uanu Avenue.

Medeiros was trying to get Albinio out of the store after he had become disorderly while trying to buy beer last Sunday, according to police. Medeiros fell and struck his head after Albinio hit him, police said. Medeiros was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where he died Thursday afternoon after being taken off life support.

Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center figures show Albinio has been convicted of 23 misdemeanors since August 1989. He was convicted two weeks ago on two counts of harassment and one count of resisting arrest. He was sentenced to one year probation and fined $300.