Opinion ID: 2629770
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Blaisdell case

Text: During the summer of 1994, Blaisdell was living with his parents in Makawao, Maui and working at Kaya's Collision and Repair, an automobile repair shop. In late July, Blaisdell met Freitas, who was acquainted with Blaisdell through a cousin, at Freitas's house in Pukalani, Maui, for the purpose of examining some damage to Freitas's jeep, which had recently flipped. During their meeting, Freitas offered Blaisdell some marijuana to smoke and, while they were smoking, Blaisdell mentioned to Freitas that he wanted to purchase some. Freitas offered to assist Blaisdell by making a few telephone calls, but no specific arrangements were made. Blaisdell had stated to several people around this time that he was trying to purchase a pound of marijuana for $800.00. Kenneth Tanouye, Blaisdell's friend and co-worker, was supposed to supply the money, and the two planned to divide the marijuana between them. In fact, approximately one week prior to Blaisdell's murder, Tanouye had given him $800.00 in cash for a purchase, but the transaction had never taken place, and Blaisdell had returned the money. On August 10, 1994, or thereabouts, Blaisdell and Freitas met by chance in front of the house of Freitas's girlfriend, who lived across the street from Blaisdell. Blaisdell asked Freitas whether he had been able to secure any marijuana, and Freitas told him that he knew how Blaisdell could obtain a pound of seeded marijuana for $800.00. But, on the morning of August 11, 1994, Freitas telephoned Blaisdell at work and informed him that he had not been able to contact his source; nevertheless, he instructed Blaisdell to call him after work. Blaisdell subsequently stated to Tanouye that he was going to attempt to purchase marijuana that night, and Tanouye once again gave Blaisdell $800.00 in cash. Blaisdell never revealed to Tanouye the identity of his source, but he did mention that he was going to meet with Freitas. Blaisdell telephoned Freitas at approximately 4:20 p.m. to follow up on their earlier conversation, but Freitas advised Blaisdell that he had been unable to contact his source and that he was going to be busy that evening. Nevertheless, when Blaisdell left his house at approximately 4:45 p.m., he told his uncle, Donald Moor, that he was going to purchase a pound of marijuana for $800.00 and displayed a roll of money. Moor urged Blaisdell to be careful, and Blaisdell assured his uncle that [i]t is okay. I am with [Freitas]. Blaisdell left with a backpack and proceeded up the street on foot, leaving his car behind. Shortly thereafter, Freitas observed Blaisdell in front of his house smoking a cigarette; Freitas was himself on his way to his girlfriend's house at the time. Blaisdell asked Freitas for a ride and, after Freitas determined that his girlfriend was not at home, he agreed to do so, although he subsequently claimed that he was not then aware of Blaisdell's intended destination. Blaisdell directed Freitas to an area of Pukalani known as skid row, at which Blaisdell instructed Freitas to park alongside the road. After approximately fifteen minutes, a truck, which Freitas recognized as belonging to Shane Shirota, pulled up and parked in front of Freitas's vehicle. Blaisdell exited Freitas's vehicle with his backpack in his hand, approached the passenger's side of the truck, and began speaking with the occupant of the vehicle through the window of the passenger's side door. Meanwhile, Freitas, who remained in his vehicle, decided to smoke a cigarette; at the moment he looked down to activate his car lighter, he heard a gunshot. He then observed Blaisdell lying by the side of the road, his head bleeding. Freitas attempted to start the engine of his vehicle, but before he could do so, Cordeiro, who Freitas recognized from high school, ran up to him with a gun pointed at his head. Cordeiro ordered Freitas out of the truck and instructed him to carry Blaisdell's body into a gulch by the side of the road and to cover the body with some rubbish, including an E-Z Glider exercise machine, which was laying nearby. While Freitas was complying, Cordeiro warned him, Don't say anything or I'll hurt your family and friends. After Freitas finished covering Blaisdell's body, Cordeiro again threatened Freitas, but ultimately allowed him to leave. As Freitas drove away in his vehicle, he noticed Blaisdell's hat, glasses, and backpack lying in the roadway. Freitas did not speak to anyone about the murder for some time. Blaisdell's body was discovered at approximately 9:00 p.m. on August 11, 1994 and Anthony Manoukian, M.D., a pathologist at Maui Memorial Hospital, examined Blaisdell's body during the morning of August 12, 1994. From his initial observation of the lividity and rigor mortis present in Blaisdell's body, Dr. Manoukian estimated that Blaisdell had been dead sometime between four and twenty-four hours. Dr. Manoukian performed an autopsy on August 13, 1994 and determined that Blaisdell died as a result of a gunshot wound to the right side of the head. Based on the gun powder residue on Blaisdell's face, Dr. Monoukian estimated that the barrel of the murder weapon had been fired from a distance of between six and twenty-four inches. He also determined that, after entering the right side of Blaisdell's head, the bullet had traveled downward and to the left. On August 13, 1994, Maui Police Department (MPD) Detective Richard Camara questioned Freitas regarding Blaisdell's death, but Freitas denied that he had been in Blaisdell's presence on the day in question. Shortly thereafter, however, Freitas did disclose to Dave Shevling, a co-worker, who[,] more or less[,] was at the scene. On September 12, 1994, an unidentified male fired a weapon at Freitas while he was driving in his truck, shattering the rear window. Freitas reported the incident to the MPD the next day, but still did not reveal any information about Blaisdell's murder. Nevertheless, Freitas feared that Cordeiro was attempting to kill him and decided to tell his sister-in-law, Lynette Sakamura, about Blaisdell's death. On October 16, 1994, Freitas disclosed to Sakamura what he had witnessed on August 11, 1994 and sought her advice. Sakamura urged Freitas to tell his parents, which he subsequently did, and they promptly hired an attorney for him. Finally, on October 19, 1994, Freitas gave a formal statement to Detective Camara regarding Blaisdell's murder on August 11, 1994. The police obtained a warrant to search Cordeiro's residence but were unable to discover any evidence linking Cordeiro to Blaisdell's death. In addition, the police obtained a warrant to search Shirota's truck. Adhesive lifts from Shirota's truck uncovered particles that were consistent with, though not unique to, the discharge from a firearm. The police never succeeded in recovering the murder weapon or the $800.00 in cash that Blaisdell allegedly had in his possession when he was killed. On October 21, 1994, Cordeiro was indicted in connection with Blaisdell's murder.