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Friend saw Deedy order 5 beers before fatal shooting

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  • CRAIG T. KOJIMA/CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
    Adam Gutowski testifies today in the murder trial of State Department special agent Christopher Deedy
  • GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
    Christopher Deedy third day in court, Judge Karen Ahn presiding. Photos of McDonald's surveillance video.

A former college roommate and fraternity brother of  State Department special agent Christopher Deedy testified this morning that the agent ordered five beers at Chinatown and Waikiki bars before the fatal shooting at the McDonald’s Kuhio Avenue restaurant early Nov. 5, 2011.

Adam Gutowski also testified that he did not hear Deedy identify himself as a law enforcement officer before 23-year-old Kollin Elderts of Kailua was fatally shot in the chest at the fast-food restaurant.

Gutowski said his memory was hazy because he had been drinking and was so intoxicated he would not have been able to drive a car.

He testified he didn’t recall much of what was said at the McDonald’s restaurant, but recalled that Elderts said either, “You have gun?” or “You’re not the only one with a gun.”

Gutowski was called by the prosecution to the witness stand in the start of the third week of Deedy’s murder trial on a charge of murdering Elderts.

Gutowski testified he and Jessica West, his girlfriend at the time, were with Deedy the Friday evening and the Saturday early morning of the shooting.

Gutowski said Deedy ordered a single beer at King’s Pub in Waikiki before they went to Chinatown where Deedy ordered a single beer each at two more bars during First Friday festivities.

 After returning to Waikiki, Deedy had ordered two other beers at two other bars, Gutowski said.

Gutowski, however, said he wasn’t monitoring how much his friend was drinking.

He testified he recalled hearing two shots, but didn’t see Elderts getting shot.

Deedy, 29, of Arlington, Va., was here to provide security for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference.

The prosecution contends he was driven by alcohol and inexperience when he shot the unarmed Elderts, while the defense maintains Deedy fired in self defense to protect himself from a drunken Elderts.

The trial will resume tomorrow morning.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn recessed the trial following the morning session because the prosecutor was suffering from cold-like symptoms.

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