State of Hawaii
12/28/2023 | News release | Distributed by Public on 12/28/2023 15:45
2023-64 GRAND JURY INDICTS FOUR OCCC INMATES FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER VAEFAGA
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
ANNE LOPEZ
ATTORNEY GENERAL
LOIO KUHINA
News Release 2023-64
GRAND JURY INDICTS FOUR OCCC INMATES FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN DEATH OF CHRISTOPHER VAEFAGA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 28, 2023
HONOLULU -An O'ahu grand jury indicted four inmates at O'ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC)-Aaron Tuitelapaga, 29; Bronson Tuitelelepaga, 27; Manu Sorenson, 33; and Josiah Palimoomanu, 33-for Manslaughter in the death of Christopher Vaefaga, 36, another OCCC inmate.
The four defendants allegedly beat Vaefaga to death on July 6, 2023.
First Circuit Court Judge Ronald G. Johnson ordered that Tuitelapaga, Tuitelelepaga, and Sorensen be held without bail. Judge Johnson set Palimoomanu's bail at $500,000.
The Department of the Attorney General's Investigations Division conducted the investigation in this matter. The Department's Criminal Justice Division is prosecuting the case.
Manslaughter is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case is State of Hawai'i v. Tuitelapaga, et al., Case No. 1CPC-23-0001488. Each of the four defendants is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Media Contacts:
Dave Day
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1284
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov
Toni Schwartz
Public Information Officer
Hawai'i Department of the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1252Cell: 808-379-9249 Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov