A 44-year-old South Kona man will stand trial in February in connection with the July shooting death of a 52-year-old Honaunau resident.
A 44-year-old South Kona man will stand trial in February in connection with the July shooting death of a 52-year-old Honaunau resident.
A Feb. 3 trial date is set for Monte M. Moreau, who is accused of shooting Todd Shaver on July 3 following an incident at a Honaunau house where both lived in separate apartments.
Shaver, who was shot in the abdomen, died July 26, weeks after police charged Moreau with attempted second-degree murder.
The February trial date previously was set after Moreau was indicted Aug. 26 on second-degree murder; however, because Moreau previously was charged by police with attempted second-degree murder it started a 180-day period that would have required the trial for Moreau to begin Dec. 30.
The U.S. and Hawaii constitutions guarantee the right to a speedy trial that must commence within six months of a charge being filed in a case.
The setting of the trial date Wednesday by 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra was a procedural move to ensure Moreau’s right to a speedy trial was met after the attempted second-degree murder charge was filed July 5.
Moreau, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, remains free on $100,000 bail.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.