KEALAKEKUA — A preliminary hearing was suspended for a 39-year-old man accused of stabbing another man in Ocean View last week.
On Wednesday morning, Moses Libero’s defense counsel Kimberly Taniyama asked District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga to suspend the hearing pending a mental health examination. There was no objection from Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye.
Masunaga granted the suspension. A review hearing of the mental health examination is scheduled for Feb. 21.
According to Hawaii Police Department officials, Libero is facing a charge of second-degree attempted murder after stabbing his ex-girlfriend’s 31-year-old son in the neck, chest and forearm. The incident occurred on Friday when Ka’u police officers were called to an assault in progress in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates.
When officers arrived at the property, located on the 92-1600 block of Kona Drive, they determined Libero and the victim were involved in the altercation, according to a press release. Both men are residents of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates.
The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital in critical condition and later flown to Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
Libero remains in custody on $250,000 bail.