KAILUA-KONA — A Kona Circuit Court judge reduced bail for two of the known associates of accused cop killer Justin Waiki.
During Monday’s hearing, Judge Robert D.S. Kim lowered Kiel Brende’s bail from $500,000 to $10,000 and Krystle Ferreira’s from $1 million to $100,000. The two are accused of assisting Waiki while on the lam after shooting and killing Hawaii Police Department Officer Bronson Kaliloa on July 17 in Mountain View.
The prosecutor’s office filed an indictment Aug. 14 that charged seven people, including Brende and Ferreira, for assisting Waiki during the weeklong, islandwide search for the 33-year-old.
Ferreira along with Malia Lajala, Jorge Pagan-Torres and Jamie Jason were with Waiki the day he was caught by law enforcement July 20. They were traveling together on South Point Road when they were stopped at a police checkpoint.
During a search of the vehicle, Waiki was found hiding in the back. After he shot at officers, police returned fire. He died from gunshots. Jason also suffered a gunshot wound and one officer was injured.
The indictment also includes Mokihana Veincent and Taumi Carr. All seven individuals face charges of hindering prosecution. Lajala, Ferreira, Jason and Pagan-Torres also were charged with first-degree attempted murder.
After reviewing Brende’s request to lower bail, Monday’s court minutes indicate the judge determined that under Hawaii statutes regarding bail Brende’s charges were not “serious crimes.”
Kim referred to statute 804-3(a), which defines serious crimes as “murder or attempted murder in the first degree, murder or attempted murder in the second degree, or a class A or B felony, except forgery in the first degree and failing to render aid under section 291C-12, and ‘bail’ includes release on one’s own recognizance, supervised release, and conditional release.”
Kim also considered Brende’s financial status.
The court also asked the Hawaii Intake Service Center to find out if electronic monitoring is available for Brende.
During Monday’s discussion about Ferreira’s bail, court minutes indicate her father, who lives on Oahu, was in the courtroom and was willing to stay with her.
Ferreira’s attorney requested an evidentiary hearing argument. The hearing is set for Nov. 13.
Also during Monday’s hearing, the judge dismissed a Class B felony weapons charge regarding a place to keep a weapon or revolver against Pagan-Torres. However, prosecutors plan to refile it.
Veincent, Lajala and Carr filed for bail reductions in October. Only Carr’s was granted from $500,000 to $25,000.
Pagan-Torres has not filed for a reduction in bail at this point. However, Deputy Prosecutor Sheri Lawson said Kim invited the defense to refile motions to reduce bail Monday.
Jason filed for a reduction in bail. That motion will be heard Nov. 19.
On Tuesday, Lawson said the state objected to all the motions to bail reduction and plans to continue to do so.
A jury trial for the seven individuals is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2019.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.
