HomeMy WebLinkAboutNR1-19-17OPA
C OU NT Y O F KAU A‘I
BERNARD P. CARVALHO, JR.
Mayor
WALLACE G. REZENTES, JR.
Managing Director
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
News Release
For Immediate Release: January 19, 2017
JUSTIN KOLLAR, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Tel (808) 241-1888
Fax (808) 241-1758
Prison sentence in ‘Ele‘ele stabbing incident
LIHUE – Christopher Cruz, 34, of ‘Ele‘ele, was today sentenced to an open 20-year
prison term for stabbing his pregnant girlfriend in December of 2015.
Fifth Circuit Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano handed down the sentence after
hearing argument from Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar and Deputy Public Defender
Stephanie Char. Cruz was before the Court for sentencing on a count of Attempted
Manslaughter, a class A felony, and Reckless Endangering in the Second Degree, a
misdemeanor.
Police investigation revealed that on December 6, 2015, Cruz and his girlfriend were
arguing in the parking lot of Ace Hardware in ‘Ele‘ele when Cruz stabbed his then 28-week
pregnant girlfriend once in the abdomen. Shortly afterward, as a result of the injury, her child was
born alive and then died 31 minutes later. Cruz was holding their 2-year old daughter in his arms
when he committed the crime.
Prosecuting Attorney Justin F. Kollar stated: “Prison is the only sentence sufficient to
protect the community from this defendant. This crime was shocking in its depravity. Fortunately,
Detective Christian Jenkins did an outstanding investigation and First Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney Jennifer Winn assembled a case that brought us to a successful result. Our thoughts
are with the victim, and with the child who died as a result of this crime.”
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