State Department special agent Christopher Deedy can now return home to Virginia pending his trial in September on charges of murdering a 23-year-old Kailua man early Nov. 5 at the McDonald’s restaurant on Kuhio Avenue.
Circuit Judge Karen Ahn granted a request Friday by Deedy’s lawyer Brook Hart to modify the bail conditions to allow him to leave Hawaii and reside at his Virginia home and work at a desk job with the State Department.
After the hearing, Deedy’s only comment was that he was "glad to be going home."
Hart said Deedy could get there this weekend, depending on whether they can arrange for a flight.
Deedy, 27, of Arlington, Va., who was here for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, is charged with fatally shooting Kollin Elderts in the chest.
Deputy Prosecutor Jan Futa opposed the defense request, saying Deedy has no family or ties here and "good reason" not to return.
Ahn noted that Deedy has posted bond covering the $250,000 bail already approved by another judge.
"I cannot believe the federal government will permit anything other than the proper administration of justice," she said.
She also set conditions that include requiring that Deedy be unarmed and work at a desk job. In addition, he cannot travel beyond 100 miles of his home.
In arguing for the modification, Hart told Ahn that his client has the "complete support of the State Department" and has "a compelling case of self-defense and defense of others."
In his request, Hart said his client’s bond was posted by the equity in his parents’ $455,000 home.
He also said Deedy has educational loans totaling $85,000, which were co-signed by his sister and aunt, who would be left with the debt if Deedy fled.
Hart said Deedy cannot afford to pay the $1,400 monthly rent for his Virginia home and his current $900 a month rent for a one-bedroom unit in a hotel-condominium building here.
His most significant asset, Hart said of his client, who has worked about 2 1/2 years with the State Department, is a 2001 auto worth about $1,800.
