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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, January 6, 2009

HAWAII BRIEFS
Shooting suspect release bid denied

Advertiser Staff

The man accused in a fatal shooting Sept. 1 at Ala Moana Beach Park lost a bid yesterday to be released from custody pending trial.

Christopher Alesna, 19, is charged with murdering Khaynava Phanthanouvong, 18, of Kalihi. Alesna yesterday asked Circuit Judge Steven Alm to be released to the supervision of his mother or for a reduction in his bail from $150,000 to $20,000.

Defense attorney Samuel King Jr. noted that his client has no prior criminal record.

After hearing opposition from Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Tashima, who cited the seriousness of the offense and concerns that Alesna might flee to the Philippines, Alm kept bail at $150,000.

Alesna allegedly shot Phanthanouvong about 2:30 a.m. near the Waikiki Yacht Club after challenging him to a fight.



TWO MEN ARRESTED IN THEATER ROBBERY

KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — Two Kailua men were arrested as suspects in an armed robbery Sunday at the Keauhou Stadium 7 movie theaters on Ali'i Drive.

The suspects, ages 24 and 21, were discovered in the theater an hour after the robbery was reported at 11 p.m., police said.

A female theater employee reported that two men wearing hooded jackets and bandannas over their faces pointed a gun at her and demanded cash and the combination to a safe. After the woman told the robbers she was unable to provide the combination, they bound her wrists and ankles and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police later found in the theater two men with clothing matching the description of what the robbers were wearing.



HIKER RESCUED NEAR LAVA FLOW

Big Island firefighters rescued a wayward hiker from a lava flow near Kalapana yesterday.

A crew from the Pahoa Fire Station received a call about 2:15 a.m. about a woman being stranded on the lava flow near where it enters the ocean.

The 43-year-old woman told rescuers via cell phone that she left a designated viewing area to get a closer look at the lava ocean entry point.

Fire Department rescue crew members hiked about three-quarters of a mile to reach the shoreline and located the woman via flashlight more than a mile away.

Due to darkness and the hazardous terrain, the hiker was told to stay put, fire officials said.

A helicopter was called and a rescue crew member was lowered to the lava to pick up the woman.



WOMAN IN KAILUA PINNED UNDER CAR

A woman was critically injured after she was pinned under a car yesterday in Kailua.

The incident was reported at 4:34 p.m. at Kalawai Place in the Keolu Hills area of Kailua. Details were not available, but the woman, described as in her 30s, was taken to a hospital, stabilized, and transferred to another hospital in critical condition.

Fire Department spokesman Capt. Terry Seelig said a fire crew responded to the incident, but by the time it got there, neighbors had lifted the vehicle off the woman.