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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 25, 2009

LIHU'E
Man accused of murdering his wife pleads not guilty

Joseph Hoapili Sr., 50, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife, Fredlynn, and has a trial date of June 8.

Hoapili was arraigned in Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano's courtroom on Thursday, represented by Deputy State Public Defender John Calma.

Kaua'i County Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho has said she will seek life without parole if Hoapili is convicted of second-degree murder. Hoapili arrested early March 3 at the home he shared with his wife, 53, and son John, 33.

John Hoapili testified in District Court that he saw his father stab his mother multiple times early the morning of March 3 in his parents' bedroom and tried to get him to stop.

Fredlynn Hoapili was pronounced dead at Wilcox Memorial Hospital that morning.

Kaua'i police records show that between 1995 and Fredlynn Hoapili's death, police responded to five reports of family abuse or assault, arresting which Joseph Hoapili each time. However, abuse charges were later dropped in court.