Wife of defendant takes stand in murder trial

KEALAKEKUA — Eber Miranda-Garcia’s wife had a hard time recalling statements she made to police when she was questioned by prosecutors about what she witnessed the day before a Holualoa man was found dead in a coffee field three years ago.

On Tuesday, Jessilyn Miranda-Garcia Hoohuli took the stand in 3rd Circuit Court as the state’s second witness during the jury trial for her husband and brother-in-law Marlon Miranda-Garcia, who are accused in the Aug. 9, 2015 murder of Dolores “Lolo” Borja-Valle.

Eber and Marlon Miranda-Garcia are facing charges of second-degree murder and second-degree conspiracy to commit murder in connection to Lolo’s death. The 69-year-old man’s body was found dumped in a Captain Cook coffee field off Keopuka Mauka Road.

Hoohuli testified she has been married to Eber Miranda-Garcia for four years this year. They have one child together who is 4 1/2 years old. She added that in August of 2015 she and her husband had been married almost a year.

“We had a good marriage,” she stated.

Lawson asked Hoohuli if Eber Miranda-Garcia was a “man’s man.”

“If it’s his responsibility, he’ll do it,” Hoohuli said.

Hoohuli told the court that she and her husband moved into Lolo’s upstairs house in Holualoa in 2013. Her two brothers-in-law, Himer and Marlon, moved into a room in Lolo’s house a couple of months before August of 2015.

Hoohuli testified she didn’t know Lolo well, however she did pick coffee for him.

“He seemed nice,” she stated. “He always said hi to my daughter.”

Hoohuli told the court she picked coffee for Lolo on Aug. 7, 2015. Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson asked Hoohuli to recall some of the events that occurred the following day on Aug. 8, 2015.

Hoohuli testified that she didn’t remember seeing Lolo’s truck that day.

“Do you recall telling Detective Luis that on Aug. 8 you paid the rent and did laundry?” Lawson asked Hoohuli.

She responded that she didn’t remember.

Lawson asked Hoohuli if reviewing her statement would help refresh her memory.

The prosecutor gave Hoohuli a copy of her statement. After a few moments, Lawson asked if her memory had been refreshed.

“I recall speaking to him, but it was two years ago,” Hoohuli said of her interview with police in 2015. “I don’t recall what was asked or what was said.”

During the lunch break Tuesday, Hoohuli reviewed her recorded interviews with police at the Kealakehe police station in August of 2015 and in June of 2017.

The Miranda-Garcia brothers were arrested in June of 2017. Hoohuli was also taken in for questioning at that time but released. Himer Miranda-Garcia was released into the custody of U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement.

When she was called back to the stand, Lawson questioned her again about what she recalled the night of Aug. 8, 2015.

Hoohuli testified that Eber Miranda-Garcia left the house at around 8 p.m. At about 11 p.m., she awoke to use the bathroom when she heard Lolo’s truck.

“I remember hearing a vehicle leave, but I don’t know which way it went,” she stated. “I assumed it was Lolo.”

Lawson pointed out a piece of her statement she made to police in June of 2017 when asked about Lolo’s truck. She directed her to the phrase: “I seen him leave.”

“Even though I made the statement I don’t remember making it,” Hoohuli testified.

After reviewing her recorded statements, Hoohuli testified that she recalled saying that she knew Eber Miranda-Garcia had left their Holualoa home that evening.

“Just said he was going,” Hoohuli recalled of Aug. 8, 2015, when Eber Miranda-Garcia left the house that night.

Hoohuli testified that she recalled possibly trying to call her husband as it was late and he had not returned home. She also recalled making a statement that Eber Miranda-Garcia wasn’t answering his phone.

“I don’t recall getting in touch with him,” Hoohuli testified about the night she attempted to call her husband.

During cross examination, Hoohuli told the court that she believed Eber Miranda-Garcia was out playing pool with his friends the night of Aug. 8, 2015.

Dr. Lindsey Harle, a forensic pathologist with Clinical Laboratories, also took the stand Tuesday. She testified that she performed an autopsy on Lolo. During her testimony, she went over many of the facial injuries Lolo suffered.

The trial was set to continue throughout the week, however with Category 4 Hurricane Lane approaching the Hawaiian Island chain, many state and county offices were closed, including the Judiciary.

The jury is set to resume Aug. 28.