Posted on: Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Man ordered to stand trial for murder

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 28-year-old man accused of murder punched, slapped and shook a 60-year-old man at a Kalihi house because the victim had earlier slammed a can of pork and beans into the face of the younger man's relative, according to court testimony yesterday.

"'Nobody touches my family member,'" the relative, Antoinette Tuituu, recalled defendant James Balai telling her.

Balai, also known as James Strong and "Dino," was ordered to stand trial on a charge of murdering Gaulbert "Gully" Reis, who died after he was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in the early morning of June 11.

Honolulu District Judge Edwin Nacino issued the ruling after hearing testimony from Tuituu, who described Reis — her former boyfriend — as a violent and abusive alcoholic. She testified that Reis earlier this year hit her with the can, knocking out some of her teeth and sending her to the hospital.

Tuituu testified Reis had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor and that she saw Balai, her cousin's son, hit him.

She said she didn't try to stop Balai, who had been drinking, because she feared him. "He's crazy when he drinks," she said.

Police detective Roland Takasato testified Balai told police in a tape-recorded statement that he was angry about what happened to Tuituu. Balai also admitted he slapped, punched and shook Reis, the detective said.

Reis also had been drinking.

William Goodhue, city first deputy medical examiner, testified that Reis died from head injuries but added that Reis' blood alcohol level of .224 — more than twice the .08 threshold for drunken driving — contributed to his death.

Balai's lawyer, Clifford Hunt, said his client's defense will be he didn't intend to kill Reis and that Balai acted in self defense after Reis reached out toward him.

"Everyone thought he was OK," Hunt said.

Balai, who is being held on $250,000 bail, is expected to plead not guilty when he is arraigned July 5. He will be given a trial date at that time.

Balai has a criminal record that includes a 2002 conviction for second-degree assault. He received a 30-day jail term and probation, according to court records.

If convicted of the second-degree murder charge, Balai would face a mandatory life term with parole.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.