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20180521-0211 CTY AVILLA RAPOZA COURT
PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA
Kaniala Avilla-Rapoza is escorted in and directed where to stand as he is arraigned in District Court in connection with the death of 19-year-old Nelibeth Albert in Wahiawa. PHOTO BY DENNIS ODA. MAY 21, 2018.
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A 21-year-old man with
Asperger’s syndrome pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Circuit Court in connection with the death of his 19-year-old autistic girlfriend in Wahiawa.
Kaniala K. Avilla-Rapoza appeared before Judge Colette Garibaldi at his arraignment via closed-circuit video link from the Oahu Community Correctional Center after an Oahu grand jury indicted him with second-degree murder in Nelibeth Albert’s death.
Attorney Moani Crowell pleaded not guilty to the murder charge on Avilla-Rapoza’s behalf.
Garibaldi confirmed his bail at $500,000 and set his trial for July.
According to a court
document, police said Avilla-Rapoza admitted he killed
Albert by choking her. He led police down a trail at the
Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area to Albert’s body May 18.
Avilla-Rapoza and Albert had been dating for two months but had known each other since they were classmates at Leilehua High School.
Individuals with Asperger’s syndrome have impaired social and communication skills.
Crowell said they contest the validity of Avilla-Rapoza’s statement to police. When you have someone who
has special needs such as Avilla-Rapoza, “there’s an inability to comprehend and intelligently waive your legal rights.”
“He insists on his innocence,” Crowell said after
the arraignment.