KAILUA-KONA — A 3rd Circuit Court judge reduced bail for two of the known associates of accused cop killer Justin Waiki.
During Monday’s hearing, Judge Robert D.S. Kim lowered Kiel Brende’s bail to $10,000 from $500,000 and Krystle Ferreira’s was lowered to $100,000 from $1 million. The two are accused of assisting Waiki while on the lam after shooting and killing Hawaii Police Officer Bronson Kaliloa on July 17 in Mountain View.
The prosecutor’s office filed an indictment on Aug. 14 that charged seven people, including Brende and Ferreira for assisting Waiki during the weeklong, islandwide search for the 33-year-old.
Ferreira along with Malia Lajala, Jorge Pagan-Torres and Jamie Jason were with Waiki the day he was caught by law enforcement on July 20. They were traveling together on South Point Road when they were stopped at a police checkpoint.
During a search of the vehicle, Waiki was found hiding in the back. After he shot at officers, police returned fire. He died from gunshots. Jason also suffered a gunshot wound and one officer was injured.
The indictment also includes Mokihana Veincent and Taumi Carr. All seven individuals face charges of hindering prosecution. Lajala, Ferreira, Jason and Pagan-Torres were also charged with first-degree attempted murder.
After reviewing Brende’s request to lower bail, Monday’s court minutes indicate the judge determined under Hawaii State statutes regarding bail, that his charges were not “serious crimes.”
Kim referred to statute 804-3(a), which defines serious crimes as “murder or attempted murder in the first degree, murder or attempted murder in the second degree, or a class A or B felony, except forgery in the first degree and failing to render aid under section 291C-12, and ‘bail’ includes release on one’s own recognizance, supervised release, and conditional release.”
Kim also considered Brende’s financial status. With those factors in mind, bail was lowered to $10,000 and the court has requested Hawaii Intake Service Center to find out if electronic monitoring is available for Brende, which will be determined on Nov. 13.
During Monday’s discussion of Ferreira’s bail, court minutes indicate her father, who lives on Oahu, was in the courtroom and was willing to stay with her.
Ferreira’s attorney requested an evidentiary hearing argument. Kim reduced her bail to $100,000 without prejudice. The hearing has been set for Nov. 13.
Also during Monday’s hearing, the judge dismissed a class B felony weapons charge regarding a place to keep a weapon or revolver against Pagan-Torres. However, prosecutors plan to refile it.
Veincent, Lajala and Carr filed for bail reductions in October. Only Carr’s was granted from $500,000 to $25,000.
Pagan-Torres has not filed for a reduction in bail at this point. However, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson said Kim invited the defense to refile motions to reduce bail on Monday.
Jason filed for a reduction in bail. That motion will be heard on Nov. 19.
On Tuesday, Lawson said the state has objected to all the motions to bail reduction and plans to continue to do so.
A jury trial for the seven individuals is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2019.