As expected, U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway has rejected plea bargains reached by the government with the last two defendants in the Pali golf course murder case, but talks about possible new plea deals are planned, lawyers in the case said this morning.

Kevin "Pancho" Gonsalves and Ethan "Malu" Motta withdrew their guilty pleas in the January 2004 shooting case after Mollway ruled the men had not provided enough assistance to the government to qualify for reduced sentences.

Mollway made a similar ruling on July 11 against the third man charged in the murder and racketeering case, Rodney Joseph Jr.

She said trial will begin Oct. 21, but lawyers for all three defendants said they will try to reach new plea deals with the government by early September.

Two men died and a third survived a gunshot wound to the head in what the government said was a showdown over control of organized crime gambling games on Oahu.

Joseph, Motta and Gonsalves have been in custody for more than 4.5 years without going to trial.

The rejected plea deals called for prison terms of 27.5 years behind bars instead of life sentences.