NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Man accused of murder gets new lawyer

A California man charged with killing his girlfriend in 2011 will get a new court-appointed attorney.

The Maui News reported that Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza on March 14 granted the request by defendant Gerald Gala­way Jr., 39, after the Public Defender’s Office said the attorney-client relationship was broken and beyond repair.

The court is awaiting mental health evaluations from three court-appointed psychiatrists or psychologists.

Celestial Dove Cassman, a 35-year-old Santa Cruz attorney, had arrived on Maui with Gala­way, also of Santa Cruz, the day before her body was found under a tree off Kahe­kili Highway near Naka­lele Point. An autopsy showed that she had been strangled.

Galaway testified that he felt pressured and confused when he entered no-contest pleas last year to a reduced charge of manslaughter and kidnapping. He seeks to withdraw his pleas.

Search for hiker called off after she calls in

Fire officials canceled a search for a hiker Thursday after she informed them that she was OK and was going to catch a ride on Saddle Road.

Hilo resident Jennifer Ho called at 1 p.m. Thursday, a fire official at the Wai­akea Fire Station said.

More than 21 federal, state and Hawaii County fire and rescue crews conducted an aerial and ground search for the woman reported missing Wednesday at the 12,500-foot level near Mauna Kea Access Road.

Ho was hiking with her husband and friends when she left the group because she was feeling ill.