Fletcher Handed to Federal Agents, Local Case Dismissed

District Court Judge Fiti Sunia has dismissed without prejudice charges against Dean Jay Fletcher who’s accused of entering the territory and attempting to leave without going through proper clearance.

Fletcher is wanted in Tonga for the murder of his wife, and managed to escape from prison and sailed here on his yacht “Sea Oak” a week before he was to stand trial.

This morning when Fletcher appeared in District Court, three federal marshals from Hawaii were present.

The government introduced a motion to dismiss the local case against Fletcher and turn him over to federal agents who will take him to Honolulu for an extradition hearing.

Before Fetcher’s hearing began, Judge Sunia summoned the prosecutor and defense attorney for a closed meeting.

When they returned to the courtroom, Assistant Attorney General Jerard Murphy moved to dismiss Fletcher’s case without prejudice, noting that federal agents have arrived to take the defendant to Honolulu for an extradition in the federal District Court of Hawaii.

Earlier this month, Judge Sunia denied a motion for dismissal and for Fletcher to be handed to the custody of police agents from Tonga  who came to the territory with the intention of taking Fletcher with them to stand trial for the murder of his wife in Tonga.

This time around the judge granted the motion for dismissal and said he defers the matter to the feds.

Fletcher was represented by Assistant Public Defender Mathoni McCormick.

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