Saipan Tribune

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Monday, January 07, 2013

$25K bail for 2 men who beat up teen

Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman on Friday imposed a $25,000 cash bail each on the two men who allegedly assaulted a teenager who later died after being run over by two cars in central Garapan.

Wiseman appointed attorney Colin Thompson and assistant public defender Benjamin Petersburg as counsel for Herman Selepeo Fitial and Felix Kileleman Jr., respectively.

Preliminary hearing will be on Jan. 8 at 1:30pm.

Chief prosecutor Peter Prestley said that Fitial, 34, and Kileleman, 19, were arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter, failure of duty to report wounds or death, and assault and battery.

Police arrested the suspects on Wednesday and Thursday.

The victim, 19-year-old Jefferson Kiauol Keju, was pronounced dead at the Commonwealth Health Center on Jan. 2 at 3:15am. He sustained several deep lacerations on the right side of the head, lacerations on his lower lip, and bruises on the face. He had a fractured femur and pelvis and had internal bleeding.

The incident happened on Tuesday night, Jan. 1, in front of LJ Market.

Police detective Melissa Bauleong stated in her report that an autopsy conducted by Dr. Aurelio Espinola showed that Keju died of massive internal injuries, trauma to his chest, and abdomen, and fractured pelvic bone.

Bauleong said Espinola claimed that the injuries were consistent with that of a person being run over or dragged by a vehicle.

Bauleong said that, on Jan. 2, police detectives canvassing Garapan obtained video surveillance footage from the New Chang Ming Store located southwest of the Mobil gas station.

A review of the footage revealed that Keju had entered the store around 11:30pm. He then appeared to have an argument with two men, later identified as Fitial and Kileleman.

The argument continued in the parking lot of the store and eventually toward the southern parking lot of the Mobil gas station. Keju and the two suspects later disappear from the view of the surveillance camera.

Bauleong said that, on the same night of Jan. 2, detectives proceeded to an apartment in Chalau Laulau where they showed Fitial a portion of the surveillance camera's footage.

Bauleong said that Fitial admitted it was him and his nephew Kileleman in the footage and that they had argument with a Chuukese (Keju).

According to Fitial, they went to New Chang Ming Store to buy cigarettes and they met the Chuukese, who was allegedly causing problems with the storeowner. The Chuukese allegedly wanted to buy beer, but the owner refused because it was already late at night.

Fitial told police that the Chuukese began arguing with him and Kileleman. As a result, he and Kileleman chased the teenager into the highway.

Fitial claimed he was chasing after Kileleman to stop him from beating up Keju. While Kileleman was punching Keju, Fitial saw a van that struck and ran over the two.

Fitial told police that the van did not stop, but sped north.

Fitial then helped Kileleman get up and called a person by the gas station to call the police.

Fitial told Kileleman to stay because police were on their way, but that his nephew began walking toward their home in China Town.

Fitial said he followed Kileleman to assist him, leaving Keju lying on the highway.

Fitial also told police that during their argument, Keju picked up two rocks and threatened to kill him and Kileleman.

Bauleong said that, on Jan. 3 at 12:02am, investigators found Kileleman inside one of the rooms of the San Jose Motel. He was with his parents.

Kileleman told investigators that a vehicle ran over him. Police detectives called for an ambulance because of Kileleman's injuries.

At 3am that day, Kileleman was found to have no broken bones or any injury so the doctor released him. An hour later, police arrested Kileleman.

Kileleman also narrated to detectives the circumstances leading to him and Fitial chasing and punching Keju.

Kileleman said he heard Fitial yelling at him to get off the road, but it was too late as a vehicle struck him and Keju.

Kileleman said he heard Keju moaning as he and Fitial walked away and proceeded home.

As of press time, investigators have yet to identify the driver of the van that sped off. The driver is still at large, while the van could not be located.

Police detectives identified Aniceto Ogumoro Jr. as the driver of the second vehicle that ran over Keju. Ogumoro stopped his pickup truck and asked someone to call the police. The driver is the son of Department of Public Safety deputy commissioner Aniceto Ogumoro.