KEALAKEKUA — An oft-delayed jury trial in the case of a former Hawaii Island police officer accused of fatally striking a bicyclist in 2015 is moving closer toward happening after a request for a continuance was denied.
Jody Buddemeyer pleaded not guilty in October 2016 to charges of first-degree negligent homicide, tampering with physical evidence and making a false report to law enforcement in connection with the March 1, 2015, crash that killed Jeffrey Surnow, a 69-year-old visitor from Michigan.
On Tuesday morning, 3rd Circuit Court Judge Melvin Fujino maintained Buddemeyer’s court date as Feb. 13, despite a motion by his defense attorney, Brian DeLima, to continue the trial. Fujino said he didn’t find DeLima’s reasons to continue the trial adequate.
Hawaii Police say Buddemeyer was operating a subsidized patrol car eastbound and was on-duty when his vehicle struck and killed Surnow as the Michigan man rode his bicycle east up Waikoloa Road.
