Doctors disagree on Crapser fitness for trial

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Three doctors who conducted mental health evaluations of Trinety Crapser appear to have differing views about whether the Ocean View woman is fit to stand trial.

Three doctors who conducted mental health evaluations of Trinety Crapser appear to have differing views about whether the Ocean View woman is fit to stand trial.

A lengthy hearing is scheduled Dec. 3 in 3rd Circuit Court before Judge Ronald Ibarra, following a request Friday by Deputy Public Defender Wendy DeWeese. Crapser, 26, is accused of wielding a hatchet while trying to steal a Chevrolet Corvette in January from an owner who fought back.

“There seems to be disagreement among the doctors,” DeWeese said.

She added outside the courtroom: “We will ferret all of this out on Dec. 3.”

Each of the three doctors are expected to take an hour to discuss their views about Crapser via teleconference.

Crapser faces numerous charges stemming from the January incident on South Point Road, including first-degree robbery, second-degree attempted assault, third-degree assault and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Crasper claimed her co-defendent, Kainoa Kahele-Bishop, forced her to rob Trudi Grentz, Deputy Public Defender Peter Bresciani said during a May hearing.

In testimony in January, Grentz said she was parked along the road placing signs to advertise a farm stand when Crapser and Kahele-Bishop pulled up. Crasper got out of the passenger side, raised a 15-inch hatchet with a 7-inch blade and demanded the keys, then lunged with the weapon, Grentz said. While the two struggled, Kahele-Bishop stole a bag from the Corvette and fled the scene, and Grentz was able to pull the hatchet away and throw it in the bushes, according to her testimony.

The struggle continued, with Crapser trying to start the Corvette and Grentz struggling with her and screaming for help until a passerby intervened.

Crapser then fled on foot. She was arrested the next day and Kahele-Bishop was taken into custody four days later.

In a Sept. 10 trial, Kahele-Bishop, of Ocean View, was found guilty of first-degree robbery, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and second-degree theft. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13 in front of Ibarra.

Email Bret Yager at byager@westhawaiitoday.com.