Tuesday’s hearing for the mental competency of Macdon Thromman, the man accused of engaging in a 20-hour standoff with police earlier this year, was delayed again.
Thromman was unavailable because he had been in a hospital on Oahu for the last four days, public defender Ann Datta told the court. She told the court the two had been unable to communicate for medical reasons, according to court records.
Both sides had received the four reports by doctors, the filing said, but Datta said she was unable to review them with Thromman.
At the hearing, the two sides questioned John Bungitak, a Marshallese interpreter, on his qualifications. The hearings have been delayed recently because of the difficulty securing a qualified translator. Thromman is a native of the Marshall Islands and the court ruled he requires a translator.
Bungitak is a registered interpreter who lives on the island, according to the official court list. Both sides stipulated to Bungitak’s qualifications.
Ibarra set a status hearing for 11 a.m. Jan. 5.