Waimea homicide case sent to Hawaii County prosecutors for review

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii Island police have forwarded a Waimea murder investigation to the Hawaii County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

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The case stems from the January death of Leah Bannister, 40, of Kurtistown, who was found unresponsive in a vehicle on KaloʻOloʻo Drive in Kawaihae on Jan. 3.

According to police, Bannister had reportedly been involved in a physical altercation with several other individuals.

Police said Bannister then entered a Nissan SUV and accelerated in the direction of a minor female and an adult man, and reportedly continued forward and collided with a nearby parked car occupied by two children.

The Nissan SUV then reversed a short distance before a man reportedly approached the driver-side window and punched Bannister, causing her to lose consciousness, police said.

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She was transported by Hawai‘i Fire Department medics to Queen’s North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital in serious condition and later died.

Police initially arrested the man on suspicion of first-degree assault and, after consultation with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, was released pending further investigation.

The case was reclassified as a second-degree murder following Bannister’s death.

Police said detectives conducted numerous interviews and extensive follow-up, resulting in the identification of three adults and two juveniles as suspects.

The investigation was submitted to the prosecutor’s office for review and possible charges.

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