Tense moments in district court Friday morning as murder suspect Daniel Kahanaoi stood before a judge to hear his charges.
Kahanaoi showed little expression as he was formally charged in the death of Kailua attorney Craig Kimsel. Kimsel was shot and killed in his home Tuesday night. But as Kahanaoi is being escorted out of the courtroom by deputy sheriff a man stands and addresses him.
"I'm sorry to interrupt. Danny I hope you sleep good at night brother -- same to you brother! Why you get one (expletive) problem brah. Sit down! That's one of my best friends. I no give one (expletive). Sit down I'm leaving."
The man identified himself as Tim Hershman a friend of Kimsel. Kahanaoi's family members including his brother Joseph in the light shirt fired back as sheriffs escorted Hershman out of the courtroom.
"I'm leaving right now -- that's one of my best friends -- best man at my wedding ...I'm leaving. You like go the same place, I'm walking out," said Hershman who flew in from the Big Island this morning. "I flew all the way from Kona to be here today to -- just to give a little peace in my mind and in Craig's family that he was murdered for no reason whatsoever."
Before leaving the courthouse, Kahanaoi's sister-in-law Vernette told reporters there are two sides to every story.
"I hope justice prevails and the man spends the rest of his life in prison," said Hershman "If we were in Texas and he got the death penalty I'd be the one to flip the switch."
Kahanaoi's preliminary hearing date was set for early next week.
