KAILUA-KONA — Two women charged in connection with the murder of a 6-year-old boy on Halloween night 2018, and abusing him and his siblings for months prior, pleaded not guilty to a host of charges Monday.
Ashley Rose Nihipali, 34, and Kuuipo Leinaala Nihipali, 32, both of Hawaiian Paradise Park, made their initial appearance Monday in Hilo Circuit Court where they entered not guilty pleas to murder, abuse, evidence tampering, terroristic threatening and other offenses.
Judge Henry T. Nakamoto subsequently set jury trial for Nov. 12 before Kona Circuit Court Judge Robert D. S. Kim.
Bail was maintained at $1 million for both Nihipalis, who remain confined at Hawaii Community Correctional Center. The two were taken into custody early Monday after turning themselves in to officers at the Hilo Police Station.
Kuuipo Nihipali is charged with one count second-degree murder; one count second-degree murder as principal and/or accomplice; six counts second-degree felony abuse of a family or household member as principal and/or accomplice; first-degree hindering prosecution as principal and/or accomplice; tampering with evidence as principal and/or accomplice; and two counts first-degree terroristic threatening as principal and/or accomplice, according to an indictment handed down July 31.
Ashley Nihipali is facing one count second-degree murder as principal and/or accomplice; six counts second-degree felony abuse of a family or household member as principal and/or accomplice; first-degree hindering prosecution as principal and/or accomplice; tampering with evidence as principal and/or accomplice; and two counts first-degree terroristic threatening as principal and/or accomplice, according to the indictment.
The charges stem from the Oct. 31, 2018, death of Mazen Kaniela Nihipali-Moniz, of Kailua-Kona. Prior to identifying the boy on Tuesday, police had declined to disclose a name citing department protocol.
Around 4:20 p.m. Oct. 31, 2018, Kona patrol officers responded to a call at the Kailua Fire Station involving a 6-year-old boy who was brought unconscious by a family member to the station.
There, officers learned the child was reportedly involved in an “incident” and been found unconscious at the Lailani Apartment complex on Manawalea Street. The affordable housing complex is located about a half-mile from Kealakehe Elementary and Intermediate schools.
Fire department medics transported the boy to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m.
The child’s death was ruled a homicide after autopsy results revealed the cause of death involved trauma, police said a week after the incident.
Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation. With the assistance of the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office, charges were filed against the suspects via a grand jury indictment July 31.
The indictment, which brought 12 charges against Kuuipo Nihipali and 10 charges against Ashley Nihipali, includes not only the murder and accomplice to murder offenses but outlines six cases of alleged abuse against five minors in the home, including Mazen.
According to the document, unsealed Tuesday, the purported physical abuse spanned from June 30 to Oct. 30, 2018. It reportedly also occurred in the presence of family or household members under the age of 14. Three of the abuse charges allege “impeding the normal breathing and/or circulation of blood” of minor victims, including Mazen.
Prosecutors also intend to seek enhanced sentencing measures if the Nihipalis are found guilty of the murder and/or accomplice to murder charges. According to the indictment, extended imprisonment is “necessary for the protection of the public” because the offenses were committed against minors younger than age 8.
Second-degree murder is normally punishable by up to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. The minimum term to be served before parole eligibility would be determined by the Hawaii Paroling Authority post-sentencing.
The enhanced sentencing sought by prosecutors, according to Hawaii Revised Statutes, would require that a mandatory minimum term of 15 years be served before parole eligibility. An extended term could result in life without parole. Sentencing is at the judge’s discretion.