A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge has ruled there is enough evidence to hold a 53-year-old man over for trial on a homicide charge for the stabbing death of Lamondre Brown, 23.In her ruling at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, Judge Marie Silveira said there was “sufficient cause to have Arthur Maunakea bound over for trial.” Maunakea is accused of stabbing Brown to death on Oct. 31, 2009, over a debt of less than $100 that Maunakea owed to Brown.During Wednesday’s hearing Deputy District Attorney Randy Fischer presented several witnesses who testified to a confrontation between the two men shortly before the attack, in which Maunakea was agitated and made threats to kill Brown.One witness said Maunakea, who was known for being a calm and mellow man, was uncharacteristically angry that day.“He just looked mean,” the witness said. “You could see it in his eyes.”While not laying out a direct claim of self-defense, defense attorney Shannon McBride’s questions suggested Maunakea may have been struck by Brown prior to the fatal assault.The attack in broad daylight was seen by a few individuals at the apartment complex at 1240 N. Olive Ave. One witness said she saw Maunakea move towards Brown with a large bread knife in his hand and that Brown kept asking Maunakea to put the knife away. In an emotional re-telling, the witness recounted seeing Maunakea plunge the knife into Brown’s chest.“The blood was coming out everywhere,” the woman said.A pathologist had testified the day before that the single stab wound pierced Brown’s heart and lungs.Maunakea was taken into custody moments after the stabbing when he waved down a passing Turlock Police patrol car on Wayside Drive. He was identified by witnesses at the scene as the one responsible for the stabbing, according to the police report.Maunakea will be officially arraigned on Oct. 27 for the homicide charge with an enhancement of using a deadly and dangerous weapon. He is being held at the Stanislaus County Jail in lieu of a $2 million bail.To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.
