A 73-year-old Aiea man charged in the 2017 death of a 31-year-old man near Aiea Shopping Center allegedly “shot and killed (the) unarmed man” and then ran over his body before fleeing the scene, said a Honolulu deputy prosecutor in his opening statement at the murder trial of Darryl Freeman.

A deputy public defender claimed Freeman acted in self-defense when Keenyn Pahio struck him multiple times and alleged it was Pahio who brandished a firearm.

Freeman, whose trial began Friday in Judge Karen Nakasone’s courtroom at Circuit Court, has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Pahio, a resident of Kalihi.

If found guilty, Freeman faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.

During opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Duane Kokesch told jurors Freeman shot Pahio at approximately 11:45 a.m. March 4, 2017, after they were involved in a dispute on Moanalua Road near the Aiea Shopping Center.

Pahio exited his silver Honda sedan and approached a white GMC van occupied by Freeman that was in front of Pahio’s vehicle.

At some point during the dispute, Kokesch said Freeman “took out his gun, pointed it at Keenyn Pahio, pulled the trigger and shot him, once in the head, point-blank range right above his left eye.”

Pahio slumped to the ground. Kokesch claimed Freeman drove over Pahio when he fled the scene.

Pahio was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

Shortly after, police arrested Freeman at his home.

Freeman, who was in the courtroom Friday, didn’t show any emotion during opening statements.

Pahio’s family members also were seated in the courtroom gallery.

Honolulu Deputy Public Defender Edward Aquino, who is representing Freeman, said Freeman acted in self-defense.

According to Aquino, Freeman was traveling westbound on Moanalua Freeway in proximity to the Red Hill overpass when Pahio repeatedly honked his horn and drove to the side of Freeman’s van and yelled at him to pull over.

Aquino said Pahio continued to tail and swerve in front of Freeman’s vehicle on the freeway in an attempt to force Freeman to stop his vehicle. He also claimed Pahio threatened him when he yelled: “I want to (expletive) you up! I’m going to (expletive) kill you.”

Aquino said Freeman was terrified and managed to get onto Moanalua Road near the shopping center where he thought he got away from Pahio.

But Pahio was right behind Freeman’s van at a stoplight in heavy traffic.

Aquino said Pahio exited his vehicle and approached Freeman, who was seated in his van. Aquino said Pahio reached into the van and that’s when Freeman saw a gun in Pahio’s hand.

Aquino said Freeman slapped the firearm away and during the ensuing struggle Pahio struck Freeman’s head repeatedly.

The gun discharged during the struggle.

Aquino said, “If he didn’t take that gun away from that man, he would be dead.”

He added: “Darryl was simply defending himself.”

Sage Roman, a state witness, testified he was in his Odyssey van with his wife and children when he saw Pahio exit his vehicle and approach the white van.

Roman said he was in a median on the road and that there was a car between his Odyssey and Pahio’s sedan at the time he observed Pahio walk toward the van and confront Freeman.

He testified Friday that he didn’t see a firearm or any type of weapon in Pahio’s hands.

Roman said he then saw Pahio reach into the van and at some point step back. He then heard a “pop” and saw Pahio spin and lean against Freeman’s vehicle.

Roman said he recalled hearing screams from two young girls seated in the rear passenger seat of Pahio’s vehicle.

Roman’s wife took the girls to their van to try to comfort them.

He testified he didn’t see the driver of the van.

Freeman is a retired Honolulu firefighter and has a criminal history of theft, firearms violations, mail fraud, racketeering and tax evasion.

His trial is scheduled to continue Monday.