Man acquitted of assault in Waikiki Halloween stabbing

A state jury has acquitted a 21-year-old man who stabbed another man following a confrontation over a parking stall in Waikiki last Halloween.

Sir Joshua-James Kristall- Wagner, 21, was on trial for attempted first-degree assault. Zachary Bastatas Jr., 22, suffered two nonlife- threatening stab wounds to his torso and a laceration to one of his arms.

Kristall-Wagner testified that he stabbed Bastatas in self-defense.

The jury deliberated a few hours Thursday before finding Kristall-Wagner not guilty.

Kristall-Wagner was standing in a parking stall on Kalakaua Avenue near Kapiolani Park to save it for his mother, with whom he was staying on a visit from Kauai. Kristall-Wagner testified that he moved out of the parking stall after Bastatas drove his car at him.

Bastatas and his girlfriend testified that when they returned to their car after a short night of Halloween reveling, the van was behind them, blocking them in.

Kristall-Wagner said he was walking along Kalakaua Avenue when Bastatas yelled at him, called him names and attacked him. He and his mother testified that Bastatas punched him in the head at least 10 times.

At that point, Kristall- Wagner said, he pulled out his folding knife to protect himself.

“When I was attacked, I felt it was the only action viable,” he said after hearing the not-guilty verdict.

Bastatas said he threw one punch after Kristall- Wagner pushed him.

Part of the confrontation was captured by the van’s dash camera.

Bastatas went to The Queen’s Medical Center, where he was also found to have alcohol and methamphetamine in his system.