Visitor charged with manslaughter in Kona death

FLEMING
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Police charged a 37-year-old Pittsburgh man with manslaughter Tuesday evening in connection with the death of a 30-year-old man following an altercation that took place Monday at a vacation rental in Kailua-Kona.

Bail for Benjamin Fleming is $250,000 and his initial appearance is set for today in Kona District Court.

The victim was identified by prosecutors as Abhishek Gupta, also of Pittsburgh.

Manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction.

Fleming and another man, 31-year-old Alexander Germany-Wald of Boston, were arrested early Monday after police and fire personnel responded to a vacation rental in the 75-5800 block of Walua Road in Kailua-Kona to a report of a man who was unresponsive and not breathing.

Upon officers arrival, Hawaii Fire Department personnel were observed performing CPR on the victim, according to police. Attempts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful.

After further investigation, Germany-Wald was released from police custody Tuesday.