State v. Yoshino

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

ABE, J.

Defendants Richard Toshishige Yoshino and Pontiano Rapanal, also known under several aliases, were indicted of the crime of murder in the first degree for killing Masao Miyagawa on December 29, 1965, at the Hawaii State Prison.

A joint jury trial of both defendants began on August 15, 1966. At the trial it was brought out that prior to the killing of Masao Miyagawa, a stabbing had occurred on the early morning hours of December 29, 1965, and an investigation was started as a suspect appeared to have been under the influence of barbiturates; that while inmates were…