Doctors divided whether stabbing suspect fit to stand trial

KEALAKEKUA — A trio of doctors is divided on whether a 19-year-old woman who allegedly stabbed two — one fatally — at a Ka’u park in April is fit to stand trial for the offenses.

Three doctors submitted reports after conducting a mental health examination of Kaleianuenue Borero-Kaluna with one finding the Naalehu woman unfit to proceed and not criminally responsible. The other two doctors deemed Borero-Kaluna fit to proceed, Borero-Kaluna’s public defender, Ann Datta, told Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga during a hearing Wednesday.

Datta proceeded to request a contested hearing on the differing opinions after which Masunaga will make a determination on Borero-Kaluna’s fitness to proceed with the case. Masunaga slated the hearing for July 17.

Borero-Kaluna is charged with second-degree murder and first- and second-degree attempted murder in connection with the April 26 incident at Whittington Beach Park, locally known as Honuapo.

Borero-Kaluna is accused of stabbing a 36-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman at the park. Both suffered multiple stab wounds and the woman, later identified as Marie Lyn Boyles, died at the scene.

According to a probable cause statement, the man suffered injuries to his shoulder, right rib/torso and right hip areas and was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

The man told police he and Boyles were attacked by his girlfriend, who was wielding a 6- to 8-inch fixed-blade knife, according to the document. Borero-Kaluna was later identified as the suspect.

Police said witnesses reported that after the stabbing, Borero-Kaluna left the scene with another individual in a red pick-up truck. The vehicle, occupied by 69-year-old Robert Hayes, was eventually located at Punaluu Beach Park that same afternoon. Hayes was also arrested, but ultimately released pending further investigation.

Borero-Kaluna turned herself in at the Naalehu Police Station that evening. She remains at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $150,000 bail.