A prosecution witness told jurors Thursday that Wayne Teves confessed to him the March 2016 slaying of Thaine Price in Waipio Valley.
Starsky Pira testified through Ilocano language interpreter Antonia Lambayan. He said he saw Teves throw a gun which was broken down into three pieces. Jurors saw a drawing made by Pira for Hawaii Police Department Detective Todd Pataray of the gun. They were also shown a video of Pira telling Pataray “85 percent” of the people in Waipio Valley didn’t like the 49-year-old Price “because he’s a thief.”
The 68-year-old Teves is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of Price, who was his neighbor. Prosecutors say it was because Price had dammed up a river that ran behind Teves’ house so Price could cross it in his truck, and Price’s actions caused the river to flood Teves’ house.
Police found the body of Price partially submerged in the river on March 3, 2016.
Pira appeared confused and distracted under cross-examination by defense attorney Brian De Lima, who brought out several inconsistencies in what Pira told Pataray, the grand jury and the trial jury. De Lima, who told jurors during his opening statement on May 1 that Pira and another man had essentially fabricated the story about Teves’ confession, sought to cast doubt on Pira’s testimony.
“After Mr. Teves told you that he had done the deal, that he had killed Thaine Price, you didn’t call the police. Correct?” De Lima asked.
“No,” Pira replied.
“And when the police came to talk to you on November 7, 2016, you didn’t tell the police about Wayne Teves confessing to you. Right? … You agree that you didn’t tell them. Right?” De Lima inquired.
“Yes,” Pira replied.
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Lee asked Pira during redirect examination why Pira hadn’t told Pataray about Teves’ confession during his initial interview by the detective.
“I was afraid,” said Pira.
The trial continues at 9 a.m. Monday, May 21, in the courtroom of Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.