Posted at 3:44 p.m., Friday, October 28, 2005
Jury: Man tried to kill police officer
By CURTIS LUM
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Circuit Court jury deliberated for about five hours before finding Daniel Vesper III guilty of one count of first-degree attempted murder. Vesper faces a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced by Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall Jan. 9.
Omai, 38, was critically injured when he was run over by a van driven by Vesper Dec. 2 last year when Omai and six other police officers attempted to arrest Vesper in a parking lot at Honolulu Community College. Vesper was wanted on suspicion of robbery, criminal property damage and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
Honolulu police Chief Boisse Correa said he was "extremely satisfied" with the jury's decision and said it "sends a clear and strong message that our community will not tolerate attacks on its police officers."
"Mr. Vesper is an extremely violent individual who was being sought because he posed a danger to others, and this conviction ensures that he will not have the opportunity to harm any innocent people again," Correa said.
