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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:45 p.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Jury selection starts for trial of man over Kula standoff

By LILA FUJIMOTO
The Maui News

WAILUKU, Maui — Jury selection began Monday in a 2nd Circuit Court trial for a man facing charges, including attempted murder, in connection with a shooting last year during a gathering at a Kula residence. The Maui News reported.

Mark A. Martins, 54, is suspected of firing more than 50 bullets in the incident reported at 10:40 p.m. May 2, 2007, at the property on Kula Highway about 1 miles above Rice Park.

Martins was a tenant on the 1-acre property, which includes a cluster of homes, owned by the mother of Francis "Randy" Randall. The 44-year-old was hospitalized after being shot in his left elbow and right inner thigh that night.

According to police, Martins wanted to leave and had asked Randall to move his van so Martins would have room to maneuver his truck out of the steep driveway off the highway. Randall refused to move the van, saying there was enough room for Martins' truck.

Randall and several others were having a barbecue outside the residence when Martins came out of his unit with a 9mm Glock pistol and started shooting, according to witnesses.

Police evacuated several homes and closed a portion of Kula Highway during a 7-hour standoff with Martins before he surrendered at 6:15 a.m. the following morning.

Martins has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree terroristic threatening, seven counts of first-degree reckless endangering, two counts of first-degree criminal property damage, using a firearm in the commission of a felony, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and two counts of possessing a prohibited pistol magazine.

Martins is being held without bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center.

Judge Joseph Cardoza is presiding over the trial.

For more Maui news, visit www.mauinews.com.