Prosecutor Appeals Ruling That Barred A Third Trial For Deedy

After two hung juries in earlier trials, a third trial is sought against the federal agent who shot a local man.

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(AP) — Honolulu’s chief prosecutor has made good on his promise to appeal a judge’s ruling saying a federal agent can’t be tried a third time for fatally shooting a man in a Waikiki fast-food restaurant.

Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro appealed Wednesday to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A U.S. judge in Honolulu ruled earlier this month that prosecutors may not proceed with a retrial against U.S. State Department Special Agent Christopher Deedy. Within hours, Kaneshiro’s office said it would appeal.

Special Agent Christopher Deedy fatally shot Kollin Elderts in 2011. PF Bentley/Civil Beat/2014

Deedy was in Honolulu for a 2011 international summit when he shot Kollin Elderts during an altercation in a McDonald’s.

A 2013 murder trial ended in a hung jury. A second jury in 2014 acquitted him of murder but deadlocked on manslaughter.

Deedy’s defense attorneys argued a third trial on manslaughter would violate the double jeopardy clause of the constitution.

Here’s the appeal document:

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