Both parents accused of starving a 9-year-old Hilo girl to death last year pleaded not guilty today to second-degree murder.
Both parents accused of starving a 9-year-old Hilo girl to death last year pleaded not guilty today to second-degree murder.
Hilo Circuit Judge Greg Nakamura set trial for 49-year-old Kevin Lehano, father of the girl identified in the indictment only by her initials S.A.L.-S, for 9 a.m. Dec. 4.
The girl’s mother, 33-year-old Tiffany Stone, was ordered by Acting Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 13.
The girl’s maternal grandmother, 59-year-old Henrietta Stone, appeared before Nakamoto, as well, but Deputy Public Defender Michael Ebesugawa told the judge his office had a conflict of interest because it represents Lehano in the case.
Nakamoto rescheduled Henrietta Stone’s arraignment and plea for 1 p.m. Tuesday to give the court time to appoint private counsel to defend her. Henrietta Stone was the alleged victim’s legal guardian, and the girl was found unresponsive in her grandmother’s Kinoole Street apartment on June 28, 2016.
She died a few hours later at Hilo Medical Center.
See Tuesday’s Tribune-Herald for a full story.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.