Man not guilty in shipmate's death

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 30-year-old man who claimed self-defense was found not guilty of murder yesterday in the stabbing of a fellow crew member aboard a fishing vessel at Honolulu Harbor last year.

Bosco Reo testified that he feared for his life and thought Teraoi Ibeari, 20, was armed during a fight aboard the 65-foot Katherine II here for repairs at Pier 17 in Honolulu Harbor on Nov. 30 last year.

City Deputy Prosecutor Franklin Pacarro said that even though Ibeari challenged Reo to a fight after an argument over beer, Reo had a knife and Ibeari was unarmed and stuck in fishing lines when he was stabbed.

But Deputy Public Defender Theresa Marshall said that after the two had been drinking, Reo got angry and charged the defendant. Marshall said that it was dark and that her client saw a shiny object and thought Ibeari had something in his hand.

The Circuit Court jury deliberated for about two days before rejecting the guilty verdict.

"We are enormously grateful," Marshall said.

She said the jury applied the law and found the stabbing was in self-defense "because it was self-defense."

Marshall said they regret that Ibeari lost his life.

"This is a tragedy," she said. "It was not a crime."

Reo has been held in lieu of $500,000 bail, but he was not freed after the verdict was announced. Marshall said she understands that he is being held on a detainer by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and she was checking on his status.

Reo is from Kiribati, as was Ibeari, and they were here on work visas, according to police.