State v. Faatea

The defendant Vili Salua Faatea was convicted of five counts of robbery in the first degree pursuant to HRS § 708-840(1 )(b)(ii). He was sentenced to an extended prison term of life without the possibility of parole for a period of ten years based on the trial court’s finding that the defendant was a multiple offender. He appeals.

The facts of this case are not in dispute. On the morning of September 17, 1979, the defendant and a companion entered the accounting office of the Ramada Inn. Among those present in the office at that time were Carleton E. Hardin, Jr., assistant manager at the…