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Bail maintained at $500,000 for murder suspect

Suspect charged with murder in death of homeless man

The Maui News

WAILUKU — Bail was maintained at $500,000 on Tuesday for a 61-year-old man charged with murder in the death of a homeless man, who was found unresponsive and bleeding Thursday on the side of the road in Lahaina.

District Court Judge Blaine Kobayashi granted the prosecution’s request to maintain bail for David Richard Stevens in his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon. Kobayashi also granted the bail conditions requested by Deputy Prosecutor Brandon Segal, which included that Stevens not make any contact with any witnesses in the case, stay away from the area where the incident occurred at Wainee Street and not leave Maui.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim is Patrick Wisely. Police said there was no signs of life in the 53-year-old victim, who had visible injuries to his face and head, when found around 6:54 a.m. Thursday in the area near Waiola Church at 535 Wainee St.

Segal asked that bail be maintained because Stevens has a criminal history in Michigan and could be a flight risk.

But Deputy Public Defender Mariana Lowy-Gerstmar said Stevens does not have a criminal record on Maui and has no means to be a flight risk; she believes he is homeless.

Stevens appeared via video conference from the Wailuku Police Station cellblock.

Because the Office of the Public Defender had previously represented Wisely, Lowy-Gerstmar said that the office had a conflict and needed to pull out of the case. Kobayashi read a list of three private defense attorneys, who could represent Stevens in future court dates.

A preliminary hearing for Stevens is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday in Wailuku District Court.

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