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Grand jury indicts 4 in death of Whitmore Village man


An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging the four people allegedly involved in the death of a 65-year-old Whitmore Village man with murder and other crimes.

The indictment charges Anjelita L. Rasa, 26, and Shaun Branco-Taguchi, 29, with second-degree murder, using a firearm to commit the murder and illegal firearm possession; Shane K. Rodrigues, 30, with being an accomplice to murder, illegal firearm possession and arson; and Jessica A. Samson, 26, with arson.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins confirmed bail for Rasa, Branco-Taguchi and Rodrigues at $1 million each. He confirmed Samson’s bail at $25,000. All four defendants remain in custody at Oahu Community Correctional Center.

Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Delaplane told Perkins, “All of the defendants had a hand in either the preparation for the murder or the cleanup after the murder of William Aki.”

Honolulu police found Aki’s body in his Whitmore Village home June 23 after finding his burned-out car near Makua Cave earlier in the day.

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