A friend of a Big Island man facing an attempted murder charge in relation to a stabbing incident last year said Joel White was upset the day of the alleged attack. ADVERTISING A friend of a Big Island man facing
A friend of a Big Island man facing an attempted murder charge in relation to a stabbing incident last year said Joel White was upset the day of the alleged attack.
White faces a second-degree attempted murder charge and another charge for first-degree burglary following an April 17 incident last year in Waikoloa that resulted in a man being hospitalized for a stab wound to his throat.
White’s attorney, William Harrison, is arguing he acted in self defense with no intention of killing the alleged victim.
Debbra Hasegawa testified in the ongoing trial on Tuesday in front of 3rd Circuit Court Judge Ronald Ibarra.
Hasegawa said she worked with White at a time-share company prior to April 17 and considered him a “close friend.” She said that earlier that day White had seemed preoccupied at work.
“He seemed to have a lot on his mind, like he was upset,” she said.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Burleson continued to question Hasegawa about White’s actions and mood that day. She elaborated and said that White was on the phone most of the day and the two talked on and off about his troubles for a total of about two hours all together. During their conversations, he had discussed being angry with his work that had disciplined him for being late. He also vented to her about the separation with his wife who was apparently seeing someone else.
Earlier in the trial, the alleged victim, Jeremy Nicholas, had testified that he had sexual relations with White’s significant other and that she was at his house the night the altercation took place. It’s not clear if these two women are the same person, according to testimony. She was previously referred to as a girlfriend of White’s.
Harrison followed up with questions about why White was upset with his work, in which Hasegawa explained that he had been disciplined for clocking in at 8:30 a.m. when he was suppose to clock in anytime before 8:30 a.m. She also said he was a really good employee.
Prior to Hasegawa’s testimony, two Hawaii County police officers described different interpretations of White’s mugshot to the jury.
Detective Levon Stevens said he did not see any redness on White’s face in his mugshot or any bruises or abrasions on his body on April 17.
South Kohala Patrol Officer Kyle Hirayama agreed he did not see any injuries on White that night, but testified he did see redness on White’s cheeks and lips in his mugshot.
Brian Kennedy, a specialist in blood stain pattern analysis and crime scene reconstruction, was the last person to take the stand Tuesday. He described photographs of the crime scene shown by the state that depicted blood trails and splatters throughout the house where the incident took place.
One of the final photographs was of a nightstand by Nicholas’ bed, where a firearm was later found. Nicholas testified last week that he had no idea the firearm was in his house.
Kennedy testified that the photographs show there was no blood on the night stand or any sign of a disturbance.
The trial will continue at 9 a.m. today in Kealakekua.
