A 38-year-old Waimea man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the January death of a hanai niece and three domestic abuse charges earlier this month. A 38-year-old Waimea man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the January death of a hanai niece
A 38-year-old Waimea man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the January death of a hanai niece and three domestic abuse charges earlier this month.
On June 8, 3rd Circuit Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra set sentencing for Ezekiel R.H. Wakinekona for Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. in Hilo.
At a preliminary hearing on Jan. 21, police Officer Scott Kurashige testified that he had been told by a pathologist that 3-year-old Marley Makanani died Jan. 15 of “brain damage due to a near drowning and a traumatic head injury due to child abuse.” Kurashige added that an autopsy also revealed that the girl had suffered “blunt force trauma to the liver and intestines.”
Two of the domestic abuse charges stem from injuries suffered by Makanani’s sisters, Journey, then 6, and Taimani, then 2.
Manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while domestic abuse is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.
Wakinekona remains in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $510,000 bail.
