Nov. 22 (UPI) — A jury discovered two males on the Hawaiian island of Maui responsible on Tuesday of a racially-motivated assault that left one man significantly injured.
Courtroom paperwork revealed Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi, 32, and Levi Aki Jr., 33, have been each convicted of a hate crime after attacking a white man who was making an attempt to maneuver into their Native Hawaiian neighborhood of Kahakuloa on the island.
The sufferer, who can solely be known as C.Okay., was within the means of transferring into the house in February of 2014 when he was attacked by the 2 males. Each Alo-Kaonohi and Aki Jr. threatened to “tie [C.K.] up and drag [him]” and make him “go lacking” if he did not depart the realm instantly.
“Your pores and skin is the mistaken f****** colour,” Alo-Kaonohi then advised him in a threatening method. He then struck C.Okay. behind the top with a shovel, leading to a bloody wound.
The 2 males returned to the house later that day as C.Okay. was within the midst of packing and attacked him as soon as once more with the shovel, hitting him within the face and rendering him unconscious.
C.Okay. awoke to seek out the 2 males repeatedly kicking him within the aspect, which broke two of his ribs. He additionally suffered a concussion from the second shovel hit.
Through the second assault, one of many two attackers advised C.Okay. that “no white man is ever going to stay right here.”
C.Okay. moved to the realm together with his household following his spouse’s a number of sclerosis analysis compelled her to retire.
This verdict brings justice and vindication to the sufferer, a person who was assaulted and practically killed merely primarily based on the colour of his pores and skin,” Justice Division Civil Rights Division Assistant Lawyer Common Kristen Clarke stated in a press release launched Tuesday following the conviction.
“The jury’s verdict – and in reality this entire prosecution – displays the Division of Justice’s dedication to defending each particular person on this nation from race-based violence, whatever the race of the perpetrator or the sufferer. The legislation applies equally to everybody.”
Each males face a most sentence of 10 years in jail. Sentencing is ready for March 2, 2023.
“The jury’s verdict confirms that the rule of legislation serves to guard all individuals in our neighborhood from vicious assaults, irrespective of the colour of their pores and skin,”U.S. Lawyer for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors stated in a press release.
“When folks commit violent crimes towards somebody out of hatred for the sufferer’s race, the Division of Justice will guarantee they face felony penalties in a court docket of legislation.”