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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 8:44 p.m., Sunday, March 9, 2008

Jervis did not ram vehicle, attorney says

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Gerard Jervis

Courtesy of Honolulu Police Department

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Former Bishop Estate trustee Gerard Jervis will plead not guilty to ramming a vehicle and drunken driving at his initial appearance Wednesday at District Court, according to his attorney Paul Cunney.

Jervis, 59, was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Friday at Aalapapa and Kaelepulu drives in Lanikai for investigation of first-degree property damage and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.

According to police, an egg thrown from a sports utility vehicle landed in the yard of Jervis' Onekea Street home, prompting him to get into his BMW car and pursue the suspects.

The sports utility vehicle was intentionally rear-ended by Jervis, causing it to collide into a utility pole guidewire and having its front end uplifted "risking the lives of those within," police said. The four 17-year-old boys in the SUV were not injured.

Jervis was charged at 11:45 last night and released early today on $40,000 bail.

Cunney said Lanikai residents have been victimized by egg-throwing incidents for about two months.

He will argue that Jervis did not ram the sports utility vehicle. "It was already up the guidewire when he collided with it," Cunney said. "The kids lost control of the vehicle trying to run away."

Police said Jervis' blood-alcohol level was .10 but Cunney plans a "choice of evils defense" on the OVUII charge. "He had no intention to drive his car," Cunney said. "Jervis is a victim. The kids were trying to get away."

Police also investigated the juvenile driver for drunken driving and all the youths for harassment in the connection with the alleged egg throwing. Prosecutors declined comment since the case involving the juveniles is under Family Court jurisdiction.