Man charged with throwing woman off cliff is fit for trial
Justin Klein, charged with attempted murder for allegedly throwing a Japanese visitor off a cliff on Kauai’s north shore, was found fit Wednesday to stand trial.
A hearing on the results of Klein’s mental health examination was held at Kauai Circuit Court before Judge Kathleen Watanabe. Klein’s trial is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 7.
A grand jury indicted Klein, 37, on a charge of second-degree attempted murder after he allegedly threw Asuza Ino from a 15-foot cliff in Kalalau Valley in December 2012. She suffered significant head injuries and was hospitalized for more than a week before she returned to Japan.
Police arrested Klein after a four-month manhunt. A tipster alerted police to a possible Klein sighting at Lydgate Beach Park in Kapaa, and officers located and arrested Klein near the pavilions.