A Hilo man accused of fatally stabbing his paternal grandparents in January will remain for now in the Hawaii State Hospital.
Joshua Ho, accused of the slayings of Jeffrey and Carla Takamine — both 68 and the owners of Big Island Delights — appeared Thursday before 3rd Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim in Kona via video from the state mental hospital in Kaneohe, Oahu.
Kim spoke to Ho directly, referring to a confidential Dec. 12 letter from HSH psychologist Meghan McBrearty.
“Pursuant to that letter, Mr. Ho, the doctor finds that you are cooperative and compliant with medication and that you’re attending legal fitness classes and participate,” Kim said. “There is a finding by the doctor that it’s unclear if you’re able to apply the information to the facts of the case and that it is — at least at this time — possibly unlikely that you’ll be able to engage in meaningful conversation about defense strategy.”
The judge said the hospital staff requested another 90 days to provide Ho “further competency restoration programming.” The judge granted their request, setting Ho’s next court hearing for 8 a.m. March. 21.
Ho, who was 21 when the tragic incident occurred, reportedly suffers from schizophrenia. He was living in the family’s Panaewa home, where the early morning attack on the Takamines took place.
Kim is presiding over Ho’s case because both Hilo Circuit Court judges, Peter Kubota and Henry Nakamoto, recused themselves from the proceedings.
Ho is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and a single count of attempted second-degree murder.
The first-degree murder charge, which is relatively rare in Hawaii, is because there were multiple homicide victims. The charge, upon conviction, carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder carry a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole.
The victim in the attempted murder charge is Ho’s older brother, Kaulana Ho, who suffered stab wounds to his head and ribs, reportedly in an attempt to disarm his younger brother of a knife. Kaulana Ho was treated for his injuries at the Hilo Medical Center emergency room and released.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.