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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, October 12, 2009

Man pleads not guilty in killing of woman on Waikiki Beach


Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Aaron Susa, represented by Deputy Public Defender Craig Jerome, today entered a plea of not guilty in the killing of 25-year-old Bryanna Antone.

BRUCE ASATO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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A Honolulu man accused of killing a 25-year-old New Mexico woman told police investigators he had consensual sex with the woman in the ocean behind the Royal Hawaiian hotel, then argued with but did not kill her.

Deputy Public Defender Craig Jerome entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Aaron Susa, 31, who was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Bryanna Antone, whose nude body was found lying on the beach by a jogger about 6 a.m. Oct. 2.
Susa appeared at his initial appearance in court in bare feet, wearing a baggy white-paper jumpsuit, his hands cuffed in front of him and his legs shackled at the ankles. He did not speak during the brief court appearance.
District Judge Philip Doi confirmed Susa’s bail at $500,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case.
Police said in an affidavit filed in District Court that Susa admitted having sex with Antone in the ocean fronting the Royal Hawaiian.
Susa told investigators he left Antone unharmed in front of the Royal Hawaiian, and went to sleep on the beach in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village, according to the affidavit.
Police were able to connect Susa with Antone via several witness statements, including one from a cook at the Royal Hawaiian who reported seeing he saw a man on top of a woman making repeated choking movements during a 10-minute period early on the morning Antone’s body was found, according to the affidavit.
In addition, police found a manila envelope on the beach containing documents belonging to Susa and a white and gold slipper that family members identified as the type worn by Antone, the affidavit said.
Semen recovered from Antone’s body contained a DNA profile that matched up with a sample listed in the Hawaii Criminal Justice System, the affidavit said.
Police responded to a suspicious person report on Oct. 5 about a man hiding in the bushes near the corner of Liholiho and Kewalo streets. The man told police his name was Herman Moore and that he had swallowed and injected Drano, which officers believed was an attempt at suicide, the affidavit said.
While at the hospital, Susa asked to speak with detectives and gave his account of what happened the morning Antone died, according to the affidavit.