POLICE BEAT
MAKIKI STABBING
Man charged with 2nd-degree murder in Makiki stabbing
By John Windrow
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Police yesterday charged a 63-year-old man with second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing Thursday in Makiki beneath the Ke'eaumoku Street overpass.
Joel Chris Allen remained in custody last night on $150,000 bail, and is scheduled to make an initial court appearance tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office yesterday identified the victim as Jason Namauu, 35.
The stabbing occurred about 6:30 p.m. Thursday near Cartwright Field, under the Ke'eaumoku Street overpass. Cartwright Field is a busy park often filled with families and people playing softball.
Police said the two were arguing inside a parked car when the victim was stabbed. The knife was recovered near the car.
Namauu was pronounced dead of multiple stab wounds at about 7 p.m. at The Queen's Medical Center.
A homeless man who was resting on a mat under the overpass yesterday said he witnessed the stabbing and flagged down a motorist and asked her to call 911.
The man, who asked that his name not be used out of concern for his safety, said the victim was dressed as a woman.
"They were in the front seat," he said. "At first I thought he was punching her, then I realized he was stabbing her. I didn't want to intervene, the guy was bigger than me and he was armed.
"Then the other boys jumped in. I flagged down a woman in a van and told her to call 911, gave her the license number and said 'Tell them to send help right away.' "
The man's account is supported by police documents, which state that:
Three witnesses told police they saw a man later identified as Allen punching Namauu in the front seat of Allen's Ford Focus. The witnesses intervened and saw a knife on the floorboard. One of the witnesses reached in and tossed the knife out of reach.
Allen tried to drive away, but the witnesses snatched the keys out of the ignition. Allen then got out of the car and ran away.
Allen was able to get as far as Times Supermarket on Beretania Street, but witnesses followed him and identified him for police. Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records show two felony convictions for Allen, in 1998, for theft and unauthorized control of a vehicle.
Reach John Windrow at jwindrow@honoluluadvertiser.com.
