Posted at 4:41 p.m., Friday, October 14, 2005
Maui jury convicts man in doctor's death
Advertiser Staff
WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui jury today convicted Michael A. Pavich of second-degree murder in the strangulation death of a retired Navy doctor.Pavich, 34, also was found guilty of robbery, burglary, kidnapping and a drug paraphernalia charge. He will be sentenced Dec. 13. Following the verdict, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza increased Pavich's bail to $1 million and he remained in custody.
The body of Edward "Doc" Bird, 82, was found Dec. 3, 2000, on his bedroom floor at the Pacific Shores condominium in Kihei. Bird had welcomed neighborhood children into his home and was a familiar sight cruising along South Kihei Road in his motorized three-wheeler.
One of the children who visited him was the son of Lisa Avilla, 35, who took Pavich to Bird's apartment to rob him. Avilla testified Pavich struggled with the elderly man, hitting Bird on the head and choking him.
Avilla originally was charged with murder, but testified against her former boyfriend after prosecutors agreed to reduce the charge to manslaughter.
