Dejillas brothers not guilty

Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho yesterday acquitted of all charges two brothers accused of assaulting two persons who beat up their 70-year-old father.

In a bench trial that began Monday, Camacho found Ernie Matagolai Dejillas and Yonnie Matagolai Dejillas not guilty of assault and disturbing the peace.

Camacho noted a lot of inconsistencies in the testimony of the government’s witnesses.

Assistant attorneys general Darren Robinson and Nicole Driscoll prosecuted the case.

Defense attorneys Joe Hill and Loren Sutton called the Dejillas brothers to the witness stand yesterday.

Yonnie Dejillas testified that when he arrived at the scene, he learned that his father had accidentally struck a girl while driving in Dandan. Yonnie Dejillas said he apologized on behalf of his father to the parents and relatives of the girl.

He said Jerome Norita and his father, Juan Norita, came up to him so he asked them who were behind the beating of his father.

Yonnie Dejillas said that Jerome Norita suddenly ran away without explanation so he chased him, but later stopped after failing to catch him.

He said while he was attending to his father, he heard the sound of breaking hollow blocks.

Yonnie Dejillas said that Juan Norita tried to hit his brother, Ernie Dejillas, with a piece of hollow block but his brother managed to dodge.

Yonnie Dejillas said he got into his car and drove it to shield his brother from the hollow blocks being thrown at him.

The defendant denied trying to hit Juan Norita with his car.

On Tuesday, the defendants’ 70-year-old father, Pantaleon Dejillas, took the witness stand shortly after associate judge Camacho dismissed the disturbing the peace charges filed against the defendants. Pantaleon Dejillas was limping as he walked toward the witness stand.

Pantaleon Dejillas recalled that he was driving his pickup truck in Dandan on his way home at about 7am on Dec. 2, 2011, when a girl suddenly crossed the road. He said he stepped on the brake but still hit the girl.

“I got down to check the girl if she was okay,” he said, adding that the girl responded when he asked her if she was fine.

The old man said that somebody suddenly punched him on the left jaw and learned it was Jerome Norita.

Pantaleon Dejillas said he fell down after Juan Norita, Jerome’s father, kicked him.

Pantaleon Dejillas said he then saw Alfred Kaipat cross the road and kick him in the ribs.

“They’re treating me like a football,” the old man said.

Police said the Dejillas brothers arrived at the scene and attacked Juan and Jerome Norita.

Last month, Jerome and Juan Norita pleaded guilty to assault and battery. Presiding Judge Robert Naraja sentenced Jerome Norita to 30 days in jail and Juan Norita to 12 days in prison. Jerome Norita testified on Tuesday.

Pantaleon Dejillas is turning 71 next month.