KAILUA-KONA — Jury trial opens today for two women and a man accused of aiding Justin Waiki after he fatally shot a Hawaii Police Department officer during a July 2018 traffic stop in Puna.
Krystle Ferreira, Malia Lajala and Jorge Pagan-Torres are on trial for their alleged role in assisting Waiki while the 33-year-old was on the lam after he shot and killed Officer Bronson Kaliloa July 17, 2018.
The three, along with another woman, Jamie Jason, were in a vehicle with Waiki, when police tracked the man down three days later and killed him in an exchange of bullets on South Point Road during which another officer was shot but has since recovered.
Jason will be tried separately after her case was severed from Ferreira, Lajala and Pagan-Torres’ case.
Three others were also charged in connection with the case; Kiel Brende and Mokihana Veincent have since pleaded out and been sentenced while the third, Taumi Carr, awaits trial.
Ferreira, Lajala and Pagan-Torres are each charged with two counts of first-degree hindering prosecution, first-degree to attempted murder and place to keep pistol or revolver. Lajala faces an additional charge of third-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
Lajala and Pagan-Torres remain in custody in lieu of $1 million bail while Ferreira is free after posting $100,000 bail.
The 12-member jury with four alternate jurors was seated Tuesday following two weeks of jury selection.
Trial, which is anticipated to last five weeks, commences today with opening statements from prosecutors and counsel for each of the defendants. Prosecutors will then present their case in Circuit Court Judge Robert D.S. Kim’s courtroom.
If convicted, attempted first-degree murder, the highest charge, carries a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Jason, the fourth person with Waiki in the vehicle, faces two counts of first-degree hindering prosecution, first-degree attempted murder and place to keep pistol or revolver, and two firearms offenses, ownership or possession prohibited fugitive. A trial date has yet to be set amid an appeal over admissibility of statements she made while hospitalized. She remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Kim has already sentenced two of the seven people accused in the case.
Veincent and Brende, who each pleaded guilty to first-degree hindering prosecution in deals meted with prosecutors, were each ordered to serve up to five years in prison, the maximum penalty for the Class C felony.
Carr is set to stand trial in December on charges of first-degree hindering prosecution and conspiracy. She remains free in lieu of $25,000 bail.