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OAG wants attempted murder charge vs Mathewson dismissed
Govt wants to pursue 2 charges over beating, spearfishing attack on Dr. Claassens
The Office of the Attorney General yesterday requested the Superior Court to dismiss the attempted murder in the first degree and two other charges against William Kapono Mathewson, a 37-year-old man charged over the beating and stabbing of Dr. Francois Classens with a fishing spear in the neck at the doctor’s house on Rota.
Assistant attorney general Chester Hinds, counsel for the government, also requested the court to instead file Mathewson with two charges—assault with a dangerous weapon and attempted assault with a dangerous weapon.
Camacho granted the government’s request.
On April 22, 2015, OAG charged Mathewson with attempted degree murder in the first degree, aggravated assault and battery, and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
In the government’s request yesterday to amend information, Hinds said after careful review of the evidence and several discussions with Claassens, the Commonwealth believes that it is in the best interests of justice to amend the information.
Hinds said Rule 7(e) the Commonwealth Rules of Criminal Procedure permits an information to be amended at any time before verdict or finding if no additional or different offense is charged and if substantial rights of the defendant are not prejudiced.
In this case, the prosecutor said, the government asserts that three offenses are being dismissed and two counts being pursued, thereby, decreasing the maximum exposure to imprisonment Mathewson is faced with.
Hinds said this amendment will neither unduly prejudice Mathewson nor compromise these proceedings.
Mathewson did not oppose the motion.
The jury trial is currently set on Rota on Oct. 11, 2016. Camacho will preside over the trial.
Mathewson, a farmer/fisherman, stabbed the then-60-year-old Claassens in the neck with a fishing spear and clubbed him on the head with a big pot and chain, police said.
The brutal attack happened in the backyard of the doctor’s house in Teneto Village on Rota on April 4, 2015. Mathewson’s house is located near the doctor’s residence.
Claassens has recovered from his injuries.
Assistant public defender Michael Sato had earlier disclosed that his client, Mathewson, will rely upon the defense of insanity at the time when he committed the alleged crimes.
