State v. Augustin

Opinion of the Court by

BURNS, C.J.

The State of Hawaii (the State) appeals the First Circuit Court’s July 22, 1996 Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order Granting Defendant’s Motion for New Trial or in the Alternative, for Mistrial (July 22, 1996 FsOF, CsOL and Order), which ordered a new trial. We affirm.

This case involves issues of (1) a juror’s improper investigation and (2) a juror’s improper disclosure of the results of that improper investigation to other jurors. We decide issue (1) in favor of defendant-appellee Raymond K.K. Augustin (Augustin). Therefore, we do not decide…