By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
MURDER suspect Binwei Zhang Secharmidal pleaded not guilty to all charges during an arraignment last week before Presiding Judge Joseph N. Camacho in Superior Court.
Secharmidal, 53, is charged with second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault and battery. Prosecutors allege that he struck 45-year-old Sheldon Kaianoa with a stick during a sudden quarrel on May 2, causing injuries that resulted in fatal blood loss.
Assistant Public Defender Robert McNeil appeared on behalf of Secharmidal, while Chief Prosecutor Chester Hinds represented the government.
Judge Camacho scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. and ordered the defendant to appear. At that hearing, both sides must advise the court whether the case will proceed to a change of plea, trial, or another form of disposition. The court also expects the parties to be prepared to select a trial date.
Judge Camacho warned that sanctions may be imposed on any party unprepared to proceed, including possible awards of fees and costs to opposing counsel for time spent preparing for the status conference.
Following the hearing, Secharmidal was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections.
Background
Department of Public Safety officers arrested Secharmidal following a fatal altercation along Asusena Avenue in Garapan on the night of May 2. According to investigators, Kaianoa and Secharmidal — also known as Joe Secharmidal — had been drinking together at a nearby establishment before leaving on foot.
Witnesses reported that an argument erupted as the two men walked, escalating into a physical confrontation. At 11:23 p.m., DPS 911 Dispatch received a call reporting a disturbance. Responding officers arrived to find Kaianoa unresponsive on the roadway near the BenCam Building with multiple injuries. The other individual had fled the scene.
Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel performed CPR and transported Kaianoa to the Commonwealth Health Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators later located Secharmidal in Susupe and took him into custody. He was subsequently charged in connection with Kaianoa’s death.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
