OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY - County of Kauai

Craig A. De Costa
Prosecuting Attorney
OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
COUNTY OF KAUAI, STATE OF HAWAII
3990 KAANA STREET, SUITE 210
LIHUE, HAWAII 96766
TELEPHONE (808) 241-1888
FAX (808) 241-1758
EMAIL prosecutor@kauai.gov
Christopher R.
Bridges
First Deputy
April 3, 2008
To:
From:
Re:
Media Outlets
Craig A. De Costa
ALBERT BACTAD’S CONVICTION AND SENTENCE AFFIRMED BY
APPELLATE COURT
PRESS RELEASE
On Monday, the Hawai‘i Intermediate Court of Appeals affirmed a misdemeanor assault
conviction and sentence for Albert Bactad, 31, of Hanamaulu.
Bactad was sentenced last year by Judge Kathleen N.A. Watanabe to one year
imprisonment, to pay restitution to the victim, and to pay a crime victim compensation fee.
Previously, a jury of 12 Kauai residents found Bactad guilty of assault in the third degree,
for repeatedly punching the victim in the face at a “chicken fight” in Anahola.
Erick Moon, Deputy Public Defender, represented Bactad during his trial; Lawrence
Strauss, former Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, represented the State of Hawai‘i.
Bactad, represented on appeal by Hayley Cheng of the Honolulu Public Defender’s
office, argued that Judge Watanabe improperly released the jurors for lunch just prior to the start
of their deliberations during his trial. Tracy Murakami, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, who

epresented the State of Hawai‘i on appeal, argued that Judge Watanabe properly released the
jurors for lunch. The appellate court rejected Bactad’s argument, concluding that the jury was
properly released for lunch prior to starting deliberations.
Bactad will begin serving his term of imprisonment when the appellate court’s decision
becomes final – in about 3 months.
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