Denial of bail sought in murder case

Hawaii County prosecutors are asking the district court that a 46-year-old Washington state man charged with the murder of his 44-year-old girlfriend at a luxury Kohala Coast resort be held without bail.

The motion will be heard Tuesday, when he is scheduled for his preliminary hearing.

Howard Philip Zimmerman of Bellevue, Wash., made his initial court appearance yesterday for the charge of second-degree murder in the death of Susan Brockert, also of Bellevue. He was also charged with kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree criminal property damage.

Police said Zimmerman has no prior felony convictions.

An autopsy of the woman is scheduled for today.

Employees at the Fairmont Orchid at Mauna Lani Resort responded late Monday night to reports from guests of screams coming from a guest room, police said. One of the employees witnessed Zimmerman allegedly striking the woman on the head with an object, police said. Employees detained Zimmerman until police officers arrived.

Suspect arrested in stabbing at park

A man is in police custody following a stabbing at Makalapa Park late Tuesday night.

Police said a man, 52, had bought some alcohol and had been drinking with another man, 27, described as a recent acquaintance, at the park at about 11 p.m. Tuesday. When the alcohol ran out, the second man demanded that he buy more. The victim was stabbed with a knife after he told the second man he had no more money to buy alcohol, police said.

The victim was taken to the hospital with one puncture wound and several cuts, police said. His condition was not immediately known.

The suspect was identified and arrested at the park on Kalaloa Street next to Pearl Harbor and was being held on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder.