Opening statements are postponed in a federal trial against a man accused of stealing the home mailbox of the Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha.

Gerard Puana is the uncle of Kealoha’s wife, Katherine Kealoha. He’s accused of taking the mailbox in June of last year.

The trial was to start Wednesday but there was an emergency involving the federal prosecutor.

The judge asked jurors to return Thursday.

The case is drawing attention to a family dispute pitting Katherine Kealoha against her uncle and 95-year-old grandmother. A civil lawsuit accuses Kealoha of stealing their money.

Puana’s federal public defender, Alexander Silvert, says his client is being set up to discredit him in the civil case. Kealoha denies taking money from her relatives.

The Kealohas are expected to testify during the trial.