State v. Alfonso

OPINION OF THE COURT BY

LUM, J.

Defendant-appellant Eric Abellira Alfonso (“appellant”) and co-defendant Eugene Charmon Margiotta were tried jointly and each convicted by a jury of rape in the first degree and of sodomy in the first degree pursuant to HRS §§ 707-730(l)(a)(i) (1976) 1 and 707-733(l)(a)(i) (1976), 2 respectively, based on the same criminal episode. Upon consideration of the issues raised which merit discussion, we affirm appellant’s conviction.

I

We shall first consider whether the trial judge’s remarks near the dose of the prosecutor’s case and his permitting the victim to testify…