Suspect in toddler’s death is scheduled to change plea

Question: Whatever happened to the case of Ezekiel Wakinekona, who was charged with manslaughter in the death of 3-year-old Marley Makanani?

Answer: Ezekiel Wakine-kona Jr. is scheduled Friday to change his plea in Hawaii Circuit Court in Hilo before Judge Ronald Ibarra.

His attorney, Rick Sing, did not return calls to the Star-Advertiser.

At his arraignment in January, the 37-year-old Wakinekona pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in Marley Makanani’s death, which was ruled a homicide, and two counts of abuse for injuries to her sisters, then ages 2 and 6.

Court affidavits say Wakinekona found the 3-year-old girl, who is a relative of Wakinekona’s wife, partially submerged in a bathtub at their Waimea home on Jan. 13.

She was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where doctors found she had suspicious injuries, including several bruises on both legs and a cut to her left hip consistent with child abuse.

Marley, who was flown that night to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children in Honolulu, was in a coma from near-drowning and physical abuse.

She died two days later.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Marley suffered brain damage from a near-drowning and head trauma from child abuse. She also was found with abusive abdominal injuries. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Marley and her two sisters were left in Wakine-kona’s care while his wife went to work.

Tiffany Ching, a cousin of the girls’ father, told the Star-Advertiser in January that Marley’s mother, Tasha Nihau-Lindsey, left the three girls at Wakinekona’s house on Hawaii island last fall.

Ching said she visited Marley at the hospital and saw the bruises to the front of her body and burns to her chest, face, arms and underside of her toes. She also had scrapes on her face and her hair appeared to have been pulled out.

Marley’s older sister, examined at Kona Community Hospital, had numerous bruises in different stages on her rear end, legs and left ear. She also had a lump on the back of her head and complained of pain to her left rib cage, saying “Uncle Eze did this to her,” court documents said. Her younger sister had a cut lip and facial marks.

The girls were taken into protective custody.

A Department of Human Services spokeswoman said Child Welfare Services and the Family Court continue to work with the Makanani family. She would not comment on the status of the Makanani children.

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This update was written by Leila Fujimori. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To…” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.