Judge won’t toss charge in crash that killed twin
HONOLULU (AP) — A judge denied a motion to dismiss a murder charge against a woman accused of deliberately driving off a cliff on Maui and killing her identical twin sister.
Alexandria Duval’s defense attorney argued the charge should be dropped because prosecutors misled the grand jury that indicted her. The argument was rejected Tuesday.
Authorities described the 2016 crash as a hair-pulling fight over the steering wheel. Anastasia Duval died, and her sister was arrested.
A judge found no probable cause and released Alexandria Duval, who was arrested again in Albany, N.Y., after being indicted.
She is scheduled for trial in January.
Kahului school remains closed following fire
KAHULUI, Maui (AP) — The state Department of Education plans to reopen Kahului Elementary School today after a suspicious fire last week burned six classrooms and damaged the school’s waterlines.
Assistant Superintendent Dann Carlson said officials assessed the structural safety of the damaged classrooms and secured access. The DOE also assessed repairs to portable classrooms, which had relatively minor damage.
Maui police Lt. Gregg Okamoto said Monday that there were no updates on the case. He said police were in the school area Friday night before the fire after receiving a call about suspicious people walking around the campus. Officers left after no one was found.
Police estimated structural damage at $900,000 and contents at $300,000. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
Cemetery official says homeless camping on land
HONOLULU (AP) — Campers have moved illegally into a cemetery on Oahu, an official said.
Gary Shim, who is on the Sunset Memorial Park’s committee and works to keep it clean, said he’s seen an influx of homeless people, abandoned vehicles and illegal drug use.
A resident of a neighboring senior apartment complex said the situation got worse after the Pearl Harbor Bike path was swept in August.
Scott Morishige, the governor’s homeless coordinator, said he wasn’t aware of the cemetery encampment, and he notified outreach workers about the situation.
“We’re going to be in coordination with the city and county to see what we can do in terms of a coordinated response,” Morishige said.