Updated at 11:35 a.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Convicted killer indicted in second homicide
By KEN KOBAYASHI
Advertiser Courts Writer
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Darnell Griffin, 48, was charged in the indictment with murdering Evelyn Luka, 20, who was found near the H-2 Freeway's off ramp at Ka Uka Boulevard in September 1999. She died the following month. Griffin is also charged with sexually assaulting her.
If convicted, Griffin faces a life term without parole, Hawai'i's harshest sentence, because of the prior murder conviction.
Circuit Judge Derrick Chan confirmed the Griffin's bail of $5 million, but also granted a request by city Deputy Kevin Takata to also hold Griffin without bail pending a formal request by prosecutors to keep him in custody without any chance of posting bail for his release.
Griffin remains in custody.
He was arrested last week after DNA evidence linked him to the sex assault and murder, according to police.
Griffin was convicted in 1983 for the murder of Lynn Gheradi, 26, at her Liholiho Street apartment in 1980. He was sentenced to a life term with parole. In 1996, he was released on parole.
