Lopaka Ceno
Eugene Kostron
Vanna Naeole
William NaeoleWAIANAE (KHNL) -- A Waianae man accused of assaulting his neighbors faces more than prison time if he's convicted. It's possible his family might lose... More >> WAIANAE (KHNL) -- A Waianae family wants justice tonight after a tense relationship with their neighbor turns violent. The neighborhood brawl happened in March but ...More >>
By Minna Sugimoto
HONOLULU (KHNL) -- Two men accused in the brutal beating of a family on Hawaiian homestead land in Waianae appeared before an Oahu judge Monday.
The neighbor of the victims, 25-year-old Lopaka Ceno, and his friend, 28-year-old Eugene Kostron, are charged with multiple counts of assault. They pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Monday morning.
The judge ordered them to stay away from the victims in the case.
The Naeoles say their tense relationship with Ceno and his family turned violent five months ago. Witnesses say 60-year-old William Naeole lost consciousness, after being hit in the face with a beer bottle. Vanna Naeole, who was pregnant at the time, says she also came under attack.
"If you violate this no-contact order, your bail can be revoked and you can get a new charge of intimidating a witness," Ronette Kawakami, deputy public defender, said to the defendants.
The suspects are free on bail. Trial is tentatively set for October.
Ceno and his family live on Hawaiian homestead land. The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands has said it will decide whether to evict them from the property after the court case is completed.
