HILO — Trial for a man accused of murdering his 6-year-old son almost 20 years ago is now scheduled to start at 9 a.m. April 25.
Peter Kema Sr. was scheduled to start his second-degree murder trial Monday for the 1997 death of Peter Kema Jr., also known as “Peter Boy.” Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura granted the delay to Kema Sr. and his court-appointed attorney, Stanton Oshiro, so they can prepare for the testimony of Jaylin Kema.
Kema Sr.’s wife, who is Peter Boy’s mother, also was charged with second-degree murder for the boy’s death, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Dec. 1.
As part of her agreement with prosecutors, she’ll testify against Kema Sr. at his trial.
Deputy Prosecutor Rick Damerville told Nakamura they were hoping trial would start earlier in April, but acknowledged “the court’s calendar is crushing.”
Peter Boy is the most notorious child disappearance-turned-murder case in Hawaii’s history. Social workers documented years of abuse of the boy, who went missing sometime in late spring or early summer 1997. His mother didn’t officially report his disappearance until January 1998 after prompting by a social worker and police.
Peter Kema Sr. told authorities in August 1997 he left Peter Boy with a longtime family friend, Aunty Rose Makuakane, at Aala Park in downtown Honolulu.
Authorities couldn’t find any evidence the woman exists, didn’t believe Kema and found no plane tickets to corroborate his story.
News of Peter Boy’s disappearance set off a statewide media firestorm, and the body has never been found.
“I’m always hopeful we’re going to find Peter Jr.,” Damerville said after the hearing. “Personally, I don’t think this is the kind of case where we’re never going to find the boy. I hope not. When rumors come to us, police are going to look. But we’ve already used a lot of the resources that we have in the past, including ground radar. … And so far, we haven’t found him. But we’re still looking and interested in continuing to look.”
Damerville said jury selection for Kema Sr.’s trial “could take awhile.”
In return for Jaylin Kema’s plea, the state has agreed to sentence her to 10 years probation with one year in jail, with sentencing to take place after her husband’s trial.
A sentencing date of May 30 was set, but if she isn’t sentenced by April 27, she’ll be freed on supervised release with electronic monitoring and will give a videotaped pretrial deposition, if needed. That date will mark a year of incarceration. She and Kema Sr. were arrested April 28, 2016, after being indicted by a Hilo grand jury for the boy’s murder.
Asked if there could be a plea deal for Kema Sr., Damerville replied, “I never rule out the possibility of a plea bargain in any case, ever.”
“But right now, we’re ready for trial and I’d rather have it sooner than later,” he added.
Oshiro declined to comment afterward.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.