Accused killer Ethan "Malu" Motta testified this morning that felt threatened and acted in self defense when he shot Tinoimalo Sao and Lepo Utu Taliese January 7, 2004 in the parking lot of the Pali municipal gold course.

Motta, 40, testified for more than an hour on direct examination and another hour on cross examination by Asst. U.S. Attorney Thomas Brady.

He is expected to undergo another hour of cross examination when the trial resumes.

Motta said he rode with his cousin and co-defendant, Rodney Joseph Jr., to the parking lot meeting but did not know what the meeting was about.

He said Joseph got out of the car first, with a gun in his waistband, and left Motta a "small gun" after telling Motta to "be careful."

Motta said that when he shook hands with Sao and embraced him, he heard Taliese shouting in the background and then he saw a truck approaching with "a bunch of guys" in it.

That's when he pushed Sao away, pulled the gun out of the car and shot him, he said.

"I fired twice," Motta said. "I didn't know at the time that I had hit anyone."

Sao was struck in the face with a .22 caliber bullet but survived the wound and testified against Motta earlier in the trial.

Motta said he "fired again" at Taliese as Taliese approached him, then fired "three more times in the direction of Lepo who was running away."

He said he never saw Joseph fire a gun but witnessed another co-defendant, Kevin "Pancho" Gonsalves, fire a gun several times and "act crazy" during the parking lot confrontation.

Gonsalves has pleaded guilty in he case and is serving a 27 1/2 year sentence.

Motta denied government charges that he was part of a racketeering enterprise that used murder, robbery and extortion to protect revenue from illegal gambling in Honolulu.

Motta, who lives on the Big Island, said he tried to mediate problems between competing groups that were providing protection to gambling games, but denied any involvement in the business or receiving any income from it.

At the Pali golf course, he said, "I never intended to shoot anybody. I was scared."

Taliese died of gunshot wounds. Also killed at the golf course was Sao's brother, Romilius Corpuz Jr.