HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR_2023-04-18Hilario.pdf
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
County of Kaua‘i, State of Hawai‘i
3990 Ka‘ana Street, Suite 210, Līhu‘e, Hawai‘i 96766
808-241-1888 ~ FAX 808-241-1758
Victim/Witness Program 808-241-1898 or 800-668-5734
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Rebecca V. Like
Prosecuting Attorney
Keola Siu
First Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2023
County of Kaua‘i
Office of the Prosecuting Attorney
Rebecca Like, Prosecuting Attorney
(808) 241-1888
Anahola Man Convicted After Lengthy Murder Trial
Today, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Like announced that an Anahola man, 36
year-old Vicente Hilario, was convicted of Murder in the First Degree, Murder
in the Second Degree, Intimidating a Witness, Retaliating Against a Witness,
and Bribery of a Witness, after a jury trial that commenced on February 27,
before Fifth Circuit Court Chief Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano. The jury
reached a guilty verdict on the third day of deliberations.
Mid-day on December 17, 2010, Hilario lured victim Aureo Moore to the
lookout above Anahola Beach Park, where he shot him six times. Mr. Moore
had accused Hilario and his friend, Kyle Akau, of robbing him of pills in August
of 2010. Hilario wanted to prevent Mr. Moore from testifying against Mr. Akau
in the robbery trial scheduled to commence just 10 days after Hilario shot Mr.
Moore.
The investigation was led by Kaua‘i Police Department Lieutenant James Miller.
The State of Hawai‘i was represented by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Matthew
Arakawa and Todd Dickenson. Defendant chose to represent himself.
Hilario was previously convicted in March of 2013 for the same incident. The
first case was remanded for a new trial by the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of
Appeals. The ICA found that Hilario was denied the right to meaningfully
participate in his defense when he was not allowed to approach the bench
during jury selection. Hilario has been in custody since his arrest on December
17, 2010.
Prosecutor Like stated, “We are grateful to the hardworking men and women of
the Kaua‘i Police Department for their thorough investigation and devotion to
finding justice for Aureo Moore in this case. I want to commend my team of
deputies, advocates, clerical and administrative staff who worked tirelessly to
organize the trial. We are happy that justice was served today for Mr. Moore
and his surviving family.”
Defendant will be sentenced on May 4, 2023. He faces life imprisonment
without the possibility of parole.
Vicente Hilario
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