Murder defendant Alapeti S. Tunoa Jr.'s $1 million bail has been set aside, and he will be held without bail pending trial.

Circuit Judge Randal Lee ruled that Tunoa is such a danger to the community that he should not be eligible for bail.

Tunoa, 30, is accused of bludgeoning his former girlfriend to death in the middle of a residential street in Kailua on Jan. 16. He has pleaded not guilty.

Trial in the case has been tentatively set for the last week of March.

Shackled at the wrists and ankles, Tunoa appeared yesterday before Judge Lee in a brief afternoon hearing, accompanied by his attorney, deputy public defender Jason Burks.

Burks said the defense would not oppose the prosecution's request that Tunoa be held without bail.

Lee ruled that Tunoa is both a danger to the community and poses a flight risk. "There are no (bail) conditions or combination of conditions which would reasonably assure his appearance (at trial) or the safety of the community," Lee ruled.

Tunoa is charged with the second-degree murder of Janel Tupuola, 30. He allegedly dragged her from her car and beat her to death with the butt of a loaded shotgun in front of horrified onlookers.

A man who attempted to intervene allegedly was threatened and struck in the head by Tunoa, a construction worker who is 6-feet-2 and 340 pounds.

In addition to murder, Tunoa also is charged with assault, terroristic threatening and firearms offenses.