The defense in a civil trial against the Honolulu police chief’s wife is starting its case by trying to cast doubt on the credibility of the uncle suing her.

Chief Louis Kealoha’s wife Katherine Kealoha is accused of stealing money from her uncle, Gerard Puana, and her 95-year-old grandmother, Florence Puana.

Wednesday’s first defense witness was a Bank of Hawaii employee who says Gerard Puana tried to get statements from an account shared by his mother and niece.

Destenie Turner says Puana put a woman on the phone who claimed to be Katherine Kealoha giving permission to release the statements. Turner says Puana identified Kealoha as his sister, instead of his niece. Kealoha says it wasn’t her on the phone.

Kealoha’s parents testified Puana had financial problems.