HONOLULU (AP) — Opening statements were postponed in a federal trial against a man accused of stealing the home mailbox of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha. ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — Opening statements were postponed in a federal trial against a
HONOLULU (AP) — Opening statements were postponed in a federal trial against a man accused of stealing the home mailbox of Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha.
Gerard Puana is the uncle of Kealoha’s wife, Katherine Kealoha. He’s accused of taking the mailbox in June last year.
The trial was to start Wednesday but an emergency involving the federal prosecutor led the judge to ask jurors to return today.
The case is drawing attention to a family dispute pitting Katherine Kealoha against her uncle and 95-year-old grandmother. A civil lawsuit accuses Kealoha of stealing their money.
Puana’s federal public defender, Alexander Silvert, says his client is being set up to discredit him in the civil case. Kealoha denies taking money from her relatives.
The Kealohas are expected to testify during the trial.
