By MARK MORRIS
Monday’s wavier hearing for Lipina Lolohea, the 17-year-old Orem girl accused of killing Samuela Loseli, ended in its third continuance and left Loseli’s family waiting for answers.
Jared Leung, Lolohea’s attorney, asked Judge Lynn Davis to grant the continuance “one more time” for three weeks. Leung said there needs to be more time for additional discovery in the case.
When Leung was asked why there has been so many continuances granted in this case, he said he could not comment.
Philip Hadfield, of the Utah County Attorney’s office, said he would not object to the continuance.
During the hearing, Davis discussed with Leung Lolohea’s rights to a speedy trial. It was agreed that Lolohea would waive her rights to a speedy trial in order to receive the continuance.
Lolohea’s next hearing was set for April 20 at 10 a.m. in the Fourth District Court.
Kisina Neiufi, Loseli’s first cousin, said the continuance bothers the family since they are still waiting to find out what happened.
Misi Tuai, also Loseli’s first cousin, said, he does not know what happened.
“We are still confused,” Tuai said.
Tuai said they are waiting to for information so they can write a letter to Loseli’s mom and dad.
Neiufi and Tuai both talked about Loseli’s wife Asalika. She went to Hawaii with her four-year-old daughter to be with her family.
Mark Brady, of the Utah County Attorney’s Office, said that Lolohea’s 15-year-old brother might be certified as an adult.
Brady said the 15-year-old had his first certification hearing on March 12 at 9 a.m. in the Orem Juvenile Court. The hearing will resume on April 7 at 1:30.
For the 15 year old to be certified as an adult, the state has to establish probable cause, the act must be a felony and the state must show by a preponderance of the evidence that it is in the best interest of the state and the juvenile that he is certified, Brady said.
The judge determines if the juvenile will be certified as an adult by looking at the following four things: the seriousness of the offence, the protection of the community, maturity of the juvenile and if the felony was against person or property.
