Honolulu District Judge Leslie Hayashi ruled that the evidence supported the charge against Hiramoto, 32, a construction worker who is accused of shooting Robert E. Lee in the garage of his Makiki apartment on the night of Dec. 22.

The judge set a Jan. 27 arraignment date.

Honolulu Police Det. Cheryl Sunia testified yesterday that when she questioned Hiramoto a week after the shooting, he told her that he had placed bets with Lee and owed him $7,000.

Police have said they believe that Lee was running a sports book operation in the garage.

Sunia testified Hiramoto told Lee he was going to visit him the night of the shooting, but had no intention of doing so because he didn't have the money. Hiramoto said he went to Toys-R-Us in 'Aiea to buy a playhouse, but the store employees and a receipt showed he bought the item at 9:52 p.m.

Lee was shot shortly after 8 p.m.

Sunia also testified that Hiramoto was seen on Lee's surveillance videotapes at the scene before and after the shooting. Police recovered what appeared to be gambling records with the name "Donny" from Lee's apartment and an IOU from Hiramoto to Lee for $4,500, Sunia testified.

No murder weapon was recovered, she said.

Hiramoto's lawyer, Jeffrey Hawk, said his client did not shoot anyone.

Hawk discounted any theory that Hiramoto's motive might be that he owed the victim money and suggested Lee was shot during a "robbery gone bad."

"You're not going to kill someone because you owe them four, five thousand dollars," Hawk said. "That's not something someone would do."

Hawk said they have not seen the surveillance tapes. "People are saying it's him, but we really have no idea whether it's him," Hawk said.