A witness testified in state court Tuesday that a 45-year-old man was lurking in the dark before stabbing his own son on Christmas Eve in Waianae.
Charles Allen Lewis, of Kapolei, was charged with second-degree attempted murder in connection with the stabbing of his 21-year-old son, Michael Lewis-Hashimoto.
Lewis appeared in District Court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday in a blue jumpsuit and shackles, and Judge Paula Devens confirmed his bail at $300,000. He was returned to Oahu Community Correctional Center.
Alton Amasiu testified he was celebrating the holiday at his family’s house on Ala Hema Street when he went to his truck at about 7:30 p.m. and noticed Lewis standing in the dark with a 9-inch knife in his hand.
He said Lewis was holding the knife with the silver blade along his forearm.
"I was shocked," Amasiu said. "I was afraid."
He asked Lewis what he was doing, and Lewis replied that he was "just waiting for somebody."
Amasiu went back inside his house fence and was watching Lewis when he saw Lewis-Hashimoto pull into a driveway across the street. Court documents said Lewis-Hashimoto had pulled into his friend’s driveway.
Amasiu said Lewis ran up to the car and started stabbing Lewis-Hashimoto through the driver’s side door.
"I heard screaming," Amasiu said. "I heard (Lewis-Hashimoto) say, ‘Stop.’"
Lewis-Hashimoto clambered out the passenger window and ran into the main road where a passing car stopped and picked him up, Amasiu said.
He said Lewis chased after his son, still swinging the knife, and, after his son got away, said, "Who’s next?"
Amasiu and his relatives chased Lewis out to Farrington Highway, where police arrested him. A responding officer said in a court affidavit that he recovered a knife that Lewis was seen throwing over a fence while trying to flee on Farrington.
Lewis-Hashimoto told police at the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Center that his father stabbed him and that he was willing to prosecute, court documents said. Lewis-Hashimoto also testified against his father Tuesday, court records show.
Lewis-Hashimoto suffered a stab wound near his left collarbone and a cut to a finger on his right hand, court documents said.
A deputy prosecuting attorney said he did not know why Lewis attacked his son.
Devens ordered Lewis to stay away from his Kapolei home, which is also the victim’s residence.
His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 12.
