Darren Paiva testified in state court today that he saw Waianae High School teacher Asa Yamashita get stabbed multiple times at Ewa Town Center in 2009, then followed the assailant until police arrested the man a short distance away.

Tittleman Fauatea, 29, is on trial in  Circuit Court for murder for Yamashita’s death. His lawyer Barry Sooalo said in opening statements that Fauatea will be relying on the insanity defense.

Sooalo said Fauatea has a history of mental illness dating to when he was 12 years old and that he is fine as long as he takes his medication.

Paiva said he was backing his pickup truck into a stall at the town center Feb. 27, 2009 when, “I seen one guy grab the lady’s arm. He had a knife in his hand and started stabbing (her).”