Opening statements begin in brutal North Shore kidnapping, murder

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Opening statements began on Monday in the trial of Stephen Brown for the murder of Telma Boinville, who was found dead in a North Shore home in 2017.

The 12-person jury trial started around 10:15 a.m. before First Circuit Court Judge Rowena Somerville.

State Prosecutor Scott Bell started opening arguments, laying out to the jury the events that led up to Boinville’s death, making his case as to why the two suspects — Stephen Brown and Hailey Dandurand — are responsible for her murder.

Bell said Boinville went to a rental home on the North Shore to clean, but found two burglars inside.

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Her daughter, who was outside at the home at the time, was allegedly taken by Brown and was told, “we killed your mom.” She was then tied up and bound but not hurt. The suspects then fled the home.

The prosecution told the jury Boinville’s 8-year-old daughter was later able to identify the two suspects — after police took them into custody — as the ones who were in the home when her mom went in to clean the house.

“After defendant Brown has been restrained, among things he said to the plainclothes officers were the following. You should have killed me. I deserve it,” said Bell.

The prosecution also told the jury that police had found Boinville’s personal belongings on the suspects upon arrest in Mililani.

“What they did deserves life in prison with no possibility of parole,” said Kevin Makana Emery, the father of Boinville’s daughter.

William Bagasol, the defense lawyer for Stephen Brown, spoke for about 26 minutes, blaming Brown’s then-girlfriend, Hailey Dandurand, for killing Boinville.

He said his client is only guilty of burglary and kidnapping and Dandurand was the one responsible for Boinville’s death.

The trial will continue now with witnesses brought by the prosecution and defense.

A separate trial will be held for Dandurand at a later date.

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